From New York to Brazil, alumni across the globe joined together to make a difference in their communities on Saturday, April 27. This year, 860 participants logged 2,383 volunteer hours at 45 different service sites, making it the largest in the event's 11-year history.
This favorite tradition provides opportunities for ֱ State alumni, friends and family to give back by participating in local volunteer projects while strengthening ties with fellow Flashes.
Freddie Lawson, ’00, volunteered with Metropolitan Ministries in Tampa, FL. The organization assists Tampa Bay residents through training, mentorship and life guidance. Freddie helped serve lunch to members by participating in kitchen duties. He said that his favorite part of the event was “being able to invest my time for the benefit of others and doing it with fellow ֱ Staters.”
The work of ֱ State alumni volunteers spanned the globe with six international sites. Andra Brown, ’04, volunteered at Hands for Hunger in Nassau, The Bahamas.
“It was a pleasure for me to participate in the community service project with Hands for Hunger. As a Guidance Counselor, I am always encouraging my students to give back to the community and it is only right that I should lead by example, which I do every chance I get,” Andra says.
Andra also enjoyed interacting with other ֱ State alumni. “One of the best things about today was getting to meet other alumni, socializing with them and creating networks that will prove beneficial as I continue to work with students,” Andra says.
In addition to volunteering at service sites, some alumni, who were passionate about a particular group or cause, planned their own service project in their area.
Sondra Backus ’75, donated items at Surfside Beach in South Carolina. “We have many families still struggling to recover from last September’s Hurricane Florence,” she said. Sondra donated bedding, food and other household items to families in need.
Alumni are already excited for next year’s Alumni Day of Service. Patrice Taylor, ’04, volunteered this year and can’t wait until next year. “The experience today was awesome. Great company, great camaraderie, great networking and great food too! Looking forward to the next event,” Patrice says.
View event photos and highlight video here.
By Katie Pavlick, ‘19