On Saturday, Nov. 9, Arkansas Tech University students will go forth to apply their ethics and compassion to benefit their neighbors in the Arkansas River Valley.
The 2019 Green and Gold Give Back event will connect volunteers from ATU with such organizations as Equestrian Zone, Russellville Animal Shelter and River Valley Child Advocacy Center. Still more Arkansas Tech students will participate in city park and road clean-up projects, while others will be deployed to perform yard work for elderly citizens.
“Now more than ever, I think it’s important to spread kindness,” said Kara Johnson, coordinator of civic engagement in the ATU Department of Campus Life. “What better way to do that than spend a beautiful day cleaning someone’s yard, brushing horses or picking up trash? It is so incredible to see the impact our students can have with just one day of service. Arkansas Tech students are really a rare breed. They have such a passion for serving and that kind of passion is infectious.”
Approximately 300 ATU students participated in the 2018 Green and Gold Give Back. Among the local alumni who benefit from the program is Sue Stallings of Russellville, who has been greeted on multiple autumn Saturday mornings by a group of volunteers raking leaves in her yard.
“I couldn’t appreciate them more,” said Stallings, a member of the Arkansas Tech Class of 1958. “They have done this for several years for me. It’s a wonderful thing. It’s like Christmas morning when they come to help. When we were visiting, I told them what’s even more special is the fact that you all, on this beautiful Saturday, you have given up these hours to do something and give back to the community when you could have been doing something for yourselves. To me, that is so important for young people. They should feel good about helping others. It’s a tribute to ATU that you have this program. It’s a tremendous service and I know others who are the recipients of it must feel the same way. The students are so willing and have great attitudes. They even seemed like they were having fun.”
The program is open to any ATU student. Those interested in participating are asked to report to Doc Bryan Student Services Center on Nov. 9.
Check-in will begin at 8:45 a.m. Assignments will be made, work will be performed and then the volunteers will return to campus for a lunch provided by Chartwells and Tyson Foods.
Students are asked to register in advance at https://atu.presence.io/form/green-gold-give-back-registration-2019.
For more information about the 2019 Green and Gold Give Back, send e-mail to kjohnson40@atu.edu or call (479) 968-0276.
