Cumberlands students serve community

On October 19, more than 700 University of the Cumberlands (UC) students stepped off campus to serve their local community. The service day was part of Pats Serve, a new program created at Cumberlands which helps connect students with people in the community through service work.

Pats Serve was an all-afternoon experience for students. Students met in the O. Wayne Rollins gym on UC’s campus and soon dispersed into groups to serve the community in various ways. Projects included working at the Cedaridge Ministries recycling center, washing windows of several buildings in downtown Williamsburg (including City Hall), and clearing bushes or cleaning playgrounds for churches in the area, among other opportunities. One group even served the elderly at the Williamsburg Nursing Home, where they did yardwork, made cards and even pampered some female patients by painting their nails.

Williamsburg Mayor Roddy Harrison was greatly appreciative of the service event.

“Seeing all the students downtown has been a dream of mine,” said Harrison. “I’ve been wanting to see students on this side of the railroad tracks for years. I think it’s a really good idea. It’s a win-win for everybody. Whoever’s idea it was to do this, I love it.”

“I thought Pats Serve was a fun experience that I was thankful to be a part of,” said Drew Shannon, a music education major who trimmed hedges at the retirement home. “It was wonderful. I think it really made a difference in their day.”

Pats Serve will be held in the fall again next year, during UC’s Homecoming weekend, so alumni can get involved with the program if they would like. Those interested in participating in Pats Serve next year can contact Marc Hensley at 606.539.4143 or marc.hensley [at] ucumberlands.edu (marc[dot]hensley[at]ucumberlands[dot]edu). Hensley is the Director of Mountain Outreach, a ministry program run by Cumberlands that services the Appalachian area.

Located in Williamsburg, Kentucky, University of the Cumberlands is an institution of regional distinction offering quality undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and online degree programs. Learn more at ucumberlands.edu.