DCCC Students Complete Two "Week of Caring" Volunteer Projects to Help Those in Need

By Myra Thompson
Davidson County Community College

September 2, 2011

Officers of the Davidson County Community College Student Government  Association (SGA) participated in a United Way of Davidson County “Week of Caring” project Aug. 30th by volunteering to help landscape two Habitat for Humanity homes in Lexington.

(Back row) DCCC SGA President James Goulding and (from left) SGA Secretary Pat Sanderson, SGA Treasurer Tara Webster, SGA Public Information Officer Melissa Whitt and SGA Parliamentarian Rachel Hodge. They helped landscape lawns for two Habitat for Humanity homes Aug. 30 during the United Way of Davidson County’s “Week of Caring.”

DCCC SGA President James Goulding and SGA officers Pat Sanderson, Tara Webster, Melissa Whitt and Rachel Hodge spread grass seed and straw to help establish the lawns of two Habitat for Humanity homes on Burgess Street in Lexington. Habitat for Humanity is a United Way supported non-profit agency that relies on volunteer labor to build affordable homes for qualifying owners in need of improved housing.

In a second “Week of Caring” project, DCCC students, staff and faculty collected almost 1,000 non-perishable food and personal hygiene items for approximately 500 senior citizen clients of Pastor’s Pantry, a non-profit food bank serving Lexington and Davidson County.

Donation boxes placed around the Davidson Campus were filled with hundreds of food and personal hygiene products during the United Way of Davidson County’s “Week of Caring,” Aug. 22 through Sept. 2.

The DCCC campus community donated cereal, oatmeal and grits; canned vegetables, soups, fruits, meats, and fish; rice, instant mashed potatoes, stuffing, peanut butter, jelly, snacks, fruit juices and powdered milk. Personal hygiene items collected included tissues, wash cloths, bath soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes, body powder, lotion, and shampoo.

Last year, fresh produce from DCCC’s community garden was donated to seniors at Pastor’s Pantry, a United Way supported agency serving senior adults, age 60 or over, who are experiencing a financial crisis. Once a month, seniors receive from seven to 10 bags of groceries worth about $100 at no charge.

The United Way’s “Week of Caring” is the largest community volunteer project in Davidson County. Volunteers from area businesses and schools completed 31 service projects for 19 United Way agencies and local non-profits.

“DCCC’s involvement  helped make this year’s Week of Caring a huge success,” said Dr. Lee Jessup, president of the United Way of Davidson County. “It’s great to see folks throughout Davidson County come together to lend a hand to those in need.”