Freshman go to work in community
By Julia Kramer · News Editor
The entire freshman Class of 2030 went out Aug. 22 to serve in the Grove City community for the college’s first Serve Day. A new orientation event that President Bradley Lingo initiated, Serve Day saw 547 students volunteer at over 25 sites across Grove City.
“We wanted it to feel like a great day in the kingdom,” Eric Fehr, the assistant dean of student life, said. Although Fehr was part of the team that decided to put the “It’s a great day in the Kingdom” slogan on all the students’ bright red t-shirts, he pointed to President Lingo as the day’s inspiration.
“When President Lingo started, he had a deep desire to see more service taking place around campus,” Fehr said. “Part of that vision was seeing something that provided freshmen the opportunity to be introduced to our community in a way of them learning to give back from the get-go.”
While not without its hiccups, the event successfully saw the college’s newest students immersed in their new community. Freshmen did yard work for neighbors and volunteered at local churches, rescue missions and schools, picked up trash off the streets and baked and crafted for different ministries across the city.
“We flooded Grove City and the local area with Grove City red,” Fehr said. “We wanted it to feel like a great day in the kingdom.”
Primarily planned by the OB Religion Committee, which began finding sites in March, Serve Day switched the usual script of orientation events.
Ryanne Gardner, a member of the committee, believed that getting freshmen to leave campus and think about life beyond college was a good move.
“I think it’s important for those students to get off Grove City campus,” Gardner said. “Especially once the year gets going. You kind of stay here. It’s like a Grove City bubble.” A junior who already spent years experiencing the “Grove City bubble,” Gardner maintained that the event’s required status did more good than harm.
“I think some people were a little bit frustrated that it was required, but once everyone got back from the sites, they were like, ‘Oh, I really enjoyed that,” Gardner said.
Timothy Heiser, another member of the committee, agreed.
“The rest of orientation is focused on them and how they are settling into college,” he said.
For Heiser, the event enabled freshmen to look outside themselves and ask, “How can I serve?”
For Sonja Schwartz, a freshman nursing major, the event was a bit of a mixed bag. With many sites canceling their need for help the night before or the day of, many groups lacked direction or sufficient work to do.
“I was definitely humbled by the fact that I was picking up trash for two hours,” Schwartz said. “But I think I could have been more helpful.”
Schwartz approved of the day’s focus on serving but challenged the idea that it had to be mandatory.
“I don’t know if I would make it mandatory,” Schwartz said. “I think a lot of Grovers would do it regardless.”
While not all freshmen may have felt the day was necessary or efficient, many recipients of the day’s work were beyond thankful for the help.
Tracy Barr and her friend Amanda DiAlesandro were two of these.
“As two single moms trying to keep up with everything, having these incredible students step in and help us meant more than we could ever put into words,” Barr said regarding the lawn work freshmen helped them with. “They went above and beyond, and the compassion, kindness and genuine care each one of them showed truly touched our hearts.”
