Athens, Ga. – On Saturday, Aug. 26, approximately 600 University of Georgia students will serve nearly 20 organizations around the Athens area for the sixth annual Dawg Day of Service.
Organized by the Student Affairs Center for Leadership and Service, Dawg Day of Service is a day of volunteering open to the university community. Students volunteer with local organizations throughout Athens-Clarke County and have the opportunity to build relationships with their peers while helping local residents. Volunteers will work with numerous local agencies, including the Athens Area Homeless Shelter, the Food Bank of NE Georgia, Athens Humane Society, Habitat for Humanity, Athens Area Council on Aging, UGArden, and Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful.
Leidong Mao is a professor in the College of Engineering.
Students have the choice of where they serve, and projects range from landscaping to harvesting vegetables to cleaning.
Since 2011, this initiative has been part of the university’s Welcome Week program, encouraging students to start the year with community service as a top priority. Last year’s program was the largest in its existence and organizers expect the same level of participation this year.
Last year, 502 participants volunteered at 27 service sites, serving at total of 1,255 hours, according to Jen Rentschler, director of the Center for Leadership and Service. “This year we are expecting similar numbers and planning to have around 20 service sites to accommodate 500 students.”
The UGA Center for Leadership and Service offers multiple ways for students to get involved at UGA and in the local community. “The UGA Center for Leadership and Service strives to bridge the gap between campus and community by meeting the needs of our community through service opportunities for our students,” said Rentschler. “In this way, we fulfill the service mission of the institution and help to create civic-minded students and alumni.”
Local nonprofit agencies that would benefit from student volunteers are encouraged to contact the Center for Leadership and Service to learn more.