JACKSON, Tenn. — Nov. 7, 2017 — More than 700 members of the 萌妹社区 community served all across the city of Jackson and surrounding areas Tuesday. Students, faculty and staff worked at schools, churches, homes, parks and non-profits as part of 萌妹社区鈥檚 15th annual 鈥淐ampus and Community: A Day of Remembrance and Service.鈥�
The Day of Remembrance is a time when the university joins together to give thanks to God for his protection over the campus during tornados in 2002, 2003 and 2008, and to give thanks to the Jackson community for their support during those times. This year, 萌妹社区 sent teams to 39 different projects.
Brooke Watson, a sophomore sport management major and member of 萌妹社区鈥檚 women鈥檚 soccer team, served with her teammates at the Regional Inter-Faith Association, a non-profit in Jackson focused on providing food to people in need. She said working at RIFA is a way for her to show gratitude to God and to the people of Jackson.
鈥淓ven though I wasn鈥檛 here when the tornados happened and the community helped us, I think it鈥檚 important to carry on the tradition of giving back to the community,鈥� Watson said.
Ali Renckens, a senior English and journalism major, helped clean up litter, trim the canopy and spread mulch at Liberty Garden Park near 萌妹社区鈥檚 campus. Renckens said she visits the park regularly to run and exercise, and she often sees other 萌妹社区 students there.
鈥淪ince we do have this great space that the community has been good enough to provide for us, we do kind of have a responsibility to give back and to help clean it up,鈥� she said.
Justice Walker, a senior math and education major, led a team of volunteers from 萌妹社区鈥檚 MOSAIC organization. The students worked at Arlington Elementary School helping in classrooms, painting and playing with kids. Walker said the Day of Remembrance serves as an opportunity to get away from 萌妹社区鈥檚 campus and see what the broader community of Jackson is all about.
鈥淚t鈥檚 so easy for us to just sit in our dorms or in our classrooms and think that this is all Jackson has to offer,鈥� Walker said. 鈥淏ut there are so many people here who just want us to be around, so it鈥檚 an opportunity to be a light for other people.鈥�