TWC ARCHES Spring 2013

M
Students volunteer 1,315 hours
of community service
for “Day of Service” project
ore than 250 Tennessee Wesleyan College faculty, staff
and students performed an overall 1,315 hours of service
participating in the college’s annual “Day of Service” on Tuesday,
November 13. Volunteering at 20 different projects throughout
the local community, TWC students participating in this year’s
“Day of Service” painted, cleaned, planted and organized at
community sites from Athens to Etowah.
“These students can make tangible impacts in the communities
where they live,” said Mandie Thacker Beeler, TWC director of
the center for servant leadership. “For TWC, the annual ‘Day of
Service’ is all about making a big difference in our small town.
“This event is a wonderful opportunity for the TWC community
to serve the greater Athens and McMinn community. Students
really make a huge difference on this day, providing the resources
needed to get necessary projects completed that might not
otherwise be possible.”
The Center for National and Community Service calculates the
national estimate of the dollar value of one volunteer hour to
be $21.67. Based on this calculation, TWC made an estimated
$28,496.05 economic impact in one day volunteering in the
community. Up approximately 100 faculty, staff and students, 6
projects and 560 hours from last year’s inaugural “Day of Service,”
this year’s event showed TWC freshmen what the college’s
“Learn, Serve, Lead … and Believe” motto truly means.
“It means a lot to me to know that Tennessee Wesleyan, as a
leader in the community, makes volunteer work a priority for
the college and its students,” said Fallon Stephens, a TWC
sophomore majoring in nursing. “There’s no greater feeling than
giving back to a community that has given so much to me.”
10 ARCHES | Spring 2013
From painting community buildings to
planting trees and doing clean-up duties
at Athens Regional Park, the volunteer
work performed during this year’s “Day of
Service” benefited community members,
local ecosystems and even animals placed
for adoption at the McMinn Regional
Humane Society.
“I think volunteer work is very important,”
said Lynette Smith, TWC director of career
services. “It allows our students to utilize
their skills and abilities to go out into the
community and to local businesses to give
back services hours that also benefit the
students in their education.”
Smith and 10 TWC students deep cleaned the Children’s
Advocacy Center during their “Day of Service” volunteer hours.
While Smith’s group cleaned toys and bathrooms, a larger group
of TWC students performed trail maintenance and planted trees
at Athens Regional Park throughout the morning and afternoon.
“These students are planting about 7,000 trees today,” said Shawn
Lindsey, public works director for the city of Athens. “Their work
is restoring North Mouse Creek. The trees that are planted today
will in the future provide habitat for animals, shade for the creek
and will help keep the bank from eroding. By volunteering their
time, these students are helping stabilize this ecosystem which
will prevent flooding and will restore the creek’s water quality.”
Lindsey and other community leaders are appreciative for the
volunteer work that Tennessee Wesleyan students perform
annually for the college’s “Day of Service.”
“I am profoundly grateful for TWC students,” said Ellen Kimball,
executive director for the Athens Area Council for the Arts.
“Not only for their ‘Day of Service’ work but also for the work
they do every day. They are in and out of here almost on a daily
basis. Whenever I need help, I know who to call. TWC students
always perform cheerfully and are eager to help.”
While community leaders appreciate TWC’s “Day of Service,”
the college also values the community’s efforts to be involved
with the project.
“I am so grateful to all of our community partners for allowing us to
serve them on this day,” said Beth Makowski, TWC coordinator
of the center for servant leadership. “For me, the culmination of
this day is such an honor to be a part of. It truly is a blessing to see
the service projects come to fruition and see the impact that our
students are making.”