HSU Students Serve Abilene

On Friday, Aug. 27, Hardin-Simmons University partnered with local non-profits to host its first Community Day of Service. Students were sent across Abilene to serve the community just as our non-profits do daily.

Katie Henderson, HSU student and Student Assistant in Spiritual Formation, helped plan the event alongside P.J. Martinez, Director of Student Engagement and First Year Experience, and Dr. Travis Craver, Director of Chapel and Spiritual Formation.

“Our main hope and mission with this community service day was to go spread love and serve the community in whatever way was needed,” said Katie. “It was so cool that we got to do that as an HSU family, and you could really feel the love in each act of service.”

Students served at local non-profits such as the Noah Project, Boys and Girls Club of Abilene, YMCA of Abilene, and Betty Hardwick Center. Because of the ongoing effects of COVID-19, student groups made blankets for Silver Spring Health and Rehabilitation Center and wrote letters to first responders on campus in order to serve remotely.

Carson Hays volunteers for Community Day of Service.

Hardin-Simmons sophomore Carson Hays helped at the Noah Project with various landscaping and clean-up projects.

“It was so special getting to see everyone working together to help those in need,” he shared. “I’ve been interested in volunteering, so having the opportunity to just jump right into it was helpful.”

Thank you to everyone that showed up to serve this year! If this is something you missed out on, join us next year for the HSU Community Day of Service or contact the United Way of Abilene for more volunteer opportunities throughout the year.