National make a difference day

Bright and early on Saturday, Oct. 27, about 200 UVU students showed up at 400 N. and 400 W. in Orem with one purpose in mind: to serve the community.

As students started to arrive at the field, they either selected which project they wanted to work on or they confirmed ones they had signed up for previously.

Students were fed donuts, milk and juice as a schedule for the day was given, then each group split off to its designated area, worked until noon and then headed back to UVU for the wrap up where lunch was served.

The groups varied from helping Primary Children’s Medical Center create name tags to cleaning up Provo and Orem parks and serving at the Orem Public Library. There were also groups helping with Habitat for Humanity and Community Action Service and Food Bank. Despite the cold early morning, many students were geared up and ready to serve.

One group went to Kids on the Move, an organization that serves local families and young children. KOTM provides early intervention classes as well as early Head Start classes to help children learn and grow. Before beginning service projects, students were shown a short video about the program they were helping.

The kid-like atmosphere brought out the kid in all of the participants as they were lead to the play areas and ball pits. The rest of the service for the day was to help clean the center by cleaning the ball pit and classroom areas. Students helped by doing tasks like sanitizing the toys and cleaning windows. Students like Marin Reynolds, Blake Olsen and Bronte Rivera show that there were several reasons students wanted to volunteer. Whether from he Service Council, UVU mentors, LDSSA or just to volunteer, students loved helping their community and being a part of Make a Difference Day.

“It’s nice to come out and serve and really feel part of the community,” Olsen said.

After the service day was over, it was estimated that around 200 UVU students showed up, altogether giving around 800 hours of service.