Saturday’s 70-degree weather made it a great day for being outdoors. Nearly 70 University of Mary Washington students discovered that it also was a perfect day for helping their neighbors.
The students fanned out into the surrounding College Heights and College Terrace areas for UMW’s fifth annual Good Neighbor Day, sponsored by Community Outreach and Resources (COAR). They raked yards, spread mulch and planted flowers at more than a dozen homes. They cleared brush and debris along the Rappahannock River, painted fences and removed weeds at the Confederate Cemetery and the St. James House, part of Washington Heritage Museums, on Charles Street.
“Volunteering is just personally fulfilling as well as helpful, which makes it a win-win for everyone involved,” said freshman Samantha Van Heest, who brushed a fresh coat of paint on the museum’s fence. “The head gardener was so kind and appreciative of our help, and it was a really rewarding feeling.”Another freshman, Jordan Chandler, who also is a member of COAR’s Therapeutic Horseback Riding program, discovered that the day of service is about more than helping neighbors.
“I love to volunteer and be able to help in the local community,” she said, “to grow the bond between homeowners and college students.”
susan dimaina says
Just wonderful to see this kind of volunteerism. Start young and you’ll be a volunteer for life!