N.C. Wesleyan students participate in Day of Service

More than 50 N.C. Wesleyan College students, faculty and staff members fanned out across Rocky Mount on Saturday in a day of service that marked the first initiative of Wesleyan’s new Office of Community Engagement.

The volunteers helped with repairs at two Habitat for Humanity houses, painted a mural at Winstead Avenue Elementary School, cleaned up trash along the Tar River and helped with improvements at Pope Elementary, the YMCA and the Bassett Center.

N.C. Wesleyan President James A. Gray III said Saturday’s volunteer effort is just the beginning of the college’s ongoing commitment to serving the greater Rocky Mount area.

“Our Office of Community Engagement will focus and expand Wesleyan’s outreach to every part of our community,” Gray said. “We are starting by serving a variety of non-profit agencies. The local United Way and others have partnered with us to identify needs that Wesleyan can help meet.”

Wesleyan created its Community Engagement office late last summer after joining N.C. Campus Compact. That group matches workers from AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America) with colleges across the state. Wesleyan’s office is headed by Cara Cox-Steiner, one of 31 VISTA workers in North Carolina.

“Wesleyan was founded by the people of this area to serve many needs of the community,” Gray said. “A part of our mission, besides preparing young people and adults for career opportunities and life-long learning, is to make them aware of how they can participate responsibly in their communities. As time goes on, we hope our service work will make a noticeable and positive impact.”