JACKSON, Tenn. — Nov. 4, 2014 — For Jeremiah Murila, spending the day working at the Alexandria Place assisted living facility was a way of blessing others.
鈥淚 personally enjoy it because it gives me an opportunity to give back to the community and use my energy and strength to help those who don鈥檛 have that same energy and strength,鈥� said Murila, a 黑料论坛 junior from Kenya.
Murila was one of about 750 Union students and employees who participated in the 12th annual 鈥淐ampus and Community: A Day of Remembrance and Service.鈥�
Campus and Community day is a chance for the Union family to express its gratitude to the local community for the ways residents helped the university following tornadoes that damaged the Union campus in 2002, 2003 and 2008. The university cancels most classes for the day to allow students and employees to participate.
This year, Union volunteers worked on about 50 service projects at area schools, churches and non-profit organizations.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a good way to witness as well,鈥� Murila said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 fulfilling both for myself, in terms of knowing that I鈥檓 helping others with my abilities, and giving them the opportunity to see God鈥檚 hand at work.鈥�
Murila and his fellow team members spent their morning cleaning up around Alexandria Place 鈥� raking leaves, vacuuming, washing windows, clearing gutters and other tasks. They spent the afternoon playing bingo with the senior adult residents.
鈥淭hat is just like a big shot in the arm,鈥� said Laurie Becton, director of nursing at Alexandria Place. 鈥淚t鈥檚 some excitement in the air, and the residents are now smiling, and they鈥檙e all looking to see what鈥檚 going on. It gives us a great feeling of being alive in here. It鈥檚 not the same old boring routine.鈥�
Sarah Lawler, a junior art major from Memphis, worked at Pope Elementary School in Jackson with fellow art students. They touched up murals on the wall and painted a new mural for the students to enjoy.
鈥淚 personally love painting, so I enjoy coming back and touching up the murals, and I love being around the community of the art department,鈥� Lawler said.
Lawler is an observational teacher at Pope and helped organize the project.
鈥淚鈥檓 here twice a week with these kids, and I get to observe them,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 know how much this brightens up their day, and they get to see it and enjoy it. I wish I could be here tomorrow when they see this new mural.鈥�
The day began with a brief service in the chapel, where Matthew Marshall, Union鈥檚 director for service and diversity initiatives, put the day鈥檚 events in context, telling students about the importance of serving others.
鈥淎s you go out today, I want to remind you that Jesus did not volunteer only for those jobs that came with prestige, but was willing to do the dirty work,鈥� Marshall said. 鈥淔ollowing in the divine example, let us too become servants today, being thankful for how this community of Jackson and surrounding areas has responded and cared for us in our time of need.鈥�