On August 22, Southern Adventist University’s newest students gathered for Southern Serves Day, which takes place during orientation week every year and encourages students to incorporate service into their lives. Southern volunteers worked with 29 organizations, including longtime partners such as the Samaritan Center and Sleep in Heavenly Peace, and new ones like the AIM Center Clubhouse, a safe place for adults with serious mental illness to heal.

Cheryl Craven, Southern’s director for Christian Service, was one of the event organizers. “I love the ongoing partnerships we have,” she says. “There’s always a core saying, ‘Yes, sign us up! We love Southern students.’” She believes that organizations see Jesus in Southern’s students.

More than 740 students and staff participated, assembling puzzles, creating cards for victims of human trafficking, cleaning community trails, and more. The number is up from 652 volunteers in 2023. Students made a larger impact as a result. For example, students helping assemble beds for Sleep in Heavenly Peace created 70 beds compared to 58 beds in 2023.

“Including Southern Serves in New Student Orientation Week helps us show freshmen what this school is about,” explains Renita Moore, First Year Experience coordinator and fellow organizer of the event. “What better way to bond a class than to give them an opportunity to serve together?”

“I enjoy service. I think it connects us on a different level with people we wouldn’t normally interact with,” shares Gwen Loney, freshman English major. Loney volunteered at Garden Plaza of Greenbriar Cove and played cornhole with the residents. “They don’t get to be around the younger generation much anymore,” she explains. “They joked that we help keep them young.”

“I want students to catch the joy that comes from being others-focused and make it a way of life,” Craven says.

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