GIVE Day offers a chance for Gannon University students, alumni and faculty to serve their community. For many students this is a new experience.
On Saturday, participants will join in the 18th annual day of serving Erie. GIVE Day – which stands for Gannon’s Invitation to Volunteer Everywhere – is an opportunity for the Gannon community to give back.
Jessie Badach-Hubert, the assistant director of the Center for Social Concerns, said more than 1,000 people have signed up this year to participate.
More T-shirts were ordered this year than in any past year as this year also has the highest number of incoming freshmen in 18 years.
Participants will volunteer in 50 different projects. They will be split between Safe Net, Big Backyard Project, Presque Isle and the Martin Luther King Center, among other places.
“This is one of many days to feel truly connected to Gannon Community,” Badach-Hubert said. “Nothing brings a community closer than sweat.”
She said the goal of GIVE Day is to impact not only the Erie community, but also Gannon.
“This is the most effective way a group can give back to a community,” she said. “No matter where everyone came from, this is now where they live. So why not make it look nice while you are here?”
Shernelle James, a junior biology major plans to participate in GIVE Day this year at Presque Isle. He said he also was involved in the event last year.
He said he cleaned up the Maritime area, and had the privilege of getting to tour a ship to see how it was made.
But the most important part for him was the service that he did – and plans to do.
“GIVE Day is not only about the community, but yourself, as well,” he said. “GIVE Day gave me a chance to give back.”
