C-N shows area communities support and love with annual Serve Day

Despite a day of torrential rain and storms, Carson-Newman University students, along with faculty and staff, took part in C-N’s annual Serve Day. Teams gathered Wednesday morning in the Maddox Student Activities Center before heading to project sites across the region to take part in serving those in the community.

The event led over 600 students to take part in projects at some 40 project sites. Along with Jefferson County locations that included area schools, Appalachian Ministries of the Smokies and True Life Church, C-N teams worked at sites in surrounding counties. Other sites included Morristown’s Food on Foot and God’s Warehouse, First Baptist Church Gatlinburg and Grainger Baptist Association’s Food Pantry.

Courtenay Folk, director for C-N’s Center for Community Engagement, says she was pleased with the event, and championed the University for pausing all classes and athletic events for the day to allow students to take part. “It’s a time the University comes together to serve and love on our community,” said Folk. “It allows us to really be the hands and feet of Jesus to those around us.”

Folk said it was amazing to see what could be accomplished with everyone working together, citing a food prep project that saw students pack 11,000 meals, which will go to local non-profits to help feed those in need.

Since 2006, Carson-Newman University had set aside a day for members of the campus community to serve at outreach projects throughout the region. The effort is but one example that supports C-N’s mission statement of helping “students reach their full potential as educated citizens and worldwide servant-leaders.”