HUNTINGTON, W.Va. –Marshall University’s Community Cares Week is underway, allowing the campus and local community to give back to the Herd.
The community service event, which aims to beautify the Marshall University campus, entered its fifth year on Tuesday. The event was started in 2022 by MU President Brad Smith to help give back to the Marshall community.
Community Cares planner and Director of Housing and Residency Mistie Bibbee said this allows individuals to give back in a different way.
“It’s really just an opportunity for the volunteers to tangibly use their time and their talent to give back to institution,” Bibbee said. “Everybody is always looking for financial donations, and we know that’s not something that people are always able and ready to do and so this way people can really give back with their time, their love, and their talent.”
During the week, which runs through Friday, volunteers will participate in landscaping, painting, general cleaning, moving mulch and rocks, planting flowers, and other activities.
The event brings together a range of volunteers, including community members, staff, faculty, students, and alumni.
said it allows participants to connect with people they do not know while working toward a good cause.
“It’s just a great opportunity while you are doing things for the benefit and the good to really make that connection with other people,” she said.
She said she spoke with a student on Wednesday who had recently graduated and returned to volunteer after helping out with a school group during the summer for the past two years.
Bibbee said it is great to see alumni return to help out.
“It just validates everything that we do on campus, that we do with our students, to show they are really are connecting with the university and we really are making a difference in their lives, the fact that once they are out living their lives, they do want to come back and contribute and still be part of it,” she said.
The university provides lunch to volunteers each day from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Don Morris Room of the Memorial Student Center.
They also use this as an opportunity to give away door prizes, which are donated by local businesses.
Bibbee said prizes can include gift cards, hotel stays, home goods, and more.
She said this is used to show appreciation for those who took time to help out.
“Lets them know their efforts are truly appreciated, and this is our way of saying thank you for helping us become better and stronger,” Bibbee said.
To register visit MU’s website here.