Southern Miss Students, Faculty, Staff Gearing Up for Community Service
Thu, 03/12/2015 - 01:26pm | By: Nikki Smith
Hundreds of students, faculty and staff at The University of Southern Mississippi's Hattiesburg and Gulf Park campuses will be conducting volunteer work as part of the 6th Annual Big Event community service project on Saturday, March 21.
“It has been such a wonderful experience to be a part of an event that gives back to the Hattiesburg community,” said Big Event Director Elena Lofton. “There is so much need in Hattiesburg, and it has been awesome to work to connect USM students with community organizations.”
The student-led service projects, such as painting, yard work and organizing supplies will take place across the Hattiesburg area from 8 a.m. until noon. On the Gulf Coast, volunteers will offer indoor and outdoor services from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Service Locations in Hattiesburg include:
· United Way of Southeast Mississippi
· The Fieldhouse for the Homeless
· Christian Services
· Edwards St. Fellowship Center Thrift Store
· Passion of the Pinebelt
· Salvation Army Gym Building
· Kamper Park
· Tatum Park
· Southern Pines Animal Shelter
· The ARC Southeast MS
· Walthall Condos
· Center for Families and Children, Petal School District
· DREAM of Hattiesburg
· Oseola McCarty Youth Development Center
· USM Campus
· First Presbyterian Church
· Longleaf Trace
· Lake Thoreau
· West Point Baptist Church
· St. Thomas Catholic Church
· Venture Church
· Parkway Heights
The Gulf Coast service locations include:
- Outdoor Site: Habitat for Humanity, 103 Central Ave., Bay St. Louis - Planting trees
- Indoor Site: Boys and Girls Club, Forest Heights clubhouse, 201 Holly Circle, Gulfport - Cleaning
- Child-Friendly Activity: Lynne Meadows Children's Center, (on the Gulf Park Campus, FEC 1st floor) - Paper Mache flowers
In Hattiesburg, volunteers will arrive before 8 a.m. at Reed Green Coliseum to check in then depart to their service locations. The Big Event is sponsored by the Student Government Association in Hattiesburg and the Department of Student Services at Gulf Park. For more information visit http://www.southernmisssga.org/ or http://www.usm.edu/gulfcoast/student-life/big-event