What an asset George Fox University is to our community. Not only in the traditional sense of economic contribution, such as employment and student spending, but in terms of a significant commitment to serving our citizens as well.
GFU staffers Britt Hoskins and Kearsten McCoy told us about a major aspect of this commitment at last week’s meeting: Serve Day.
The “big picture,” according to McCoy, is that the concept started in 1999, and more than 180,000 hours of community service have been donated by students, faculty and staff over the past 18 years.
Britt Hoskins introduces Serve Day.
“In the beginning, gifts from Rotary to student projects helped get Serve Day going,” she said. “We appreciate Rotary as a local partner.”
She gave examples of the 108 places in 20 cities that volunteer work has been done…schools, homes, churches, nonprofits, nursing homes, even the library. Most have been in Newberg.
Kearsten McCoy enthusiastically told us about the Serve Day program.
The type of work performed is varied…. from painting and yard work to cleaning, home construction and assisting seniors.
Kearsten said, “We feel like, ‘here’s our arms, here’s our energy, what do you need done? Can we take one thing off your to-do list?'”
She said grateful recipients have told her that it would have taken them four weeks to accomplish what GFU students did in one day.
The university is growing, and the Serve Day managers are thinking ahead. “We’d like to involve new community partners to extend our reach, to establish consistent funding. The biggest expense, believe it or not, is feeding the workers.”
All at George Fox deserve a big round of applause for this program that benefits our area in so many ways. For more information, or to apply for Serve Day help next year, go to [email protected].
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You do not want to miss this week’s program.
Todd Engle’s 7-year-old grandson Jude will be our speaker!
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GUESTS LAST WEEK: Ann Dolan, and Dan Keuler from the City of Newberg
Visiting Rotarian Francisco Stoller invites us to a fundraiser for A Family Place.
VISITING ROTARIAN: Francisco Stoller from the Morning Club came to our meeting to invite us to the Wednesday, Oct. 12 noon fundraiser for A Family Place at the Cultural Center. Yes, that conflicts with what would normally be our meeting time and our meeting place. However, we will not have a meeting at noon that day, so you are free to attend. Our club will instead have a social hour that evening at 5pm at Chehalem Brewing. Appetizers will be provided, so please RSVP so we know how many to order.
Congrats to Laura Tilrico, who received an award for her consistent annual donations to the Paul Harris Foundation. Mike Caruso presented the award to Laura.
According to President Leah, dictionaries have come in and are available to be delivered to 3rd graders. Please talk to Leah to sign up.
Wow! Thanks to all club members who brought diapers for our “diaper drive” last week. Look at that stack!
And did I say:
You do not want to miss this week’s program.
Todd Engle’s 7-year-old grandson Jude will be our speaker!
