The community teams up for a meaningful day of service

May 16, 2024

The Saint Michael’s community came together for Community Service Day on Tuesday. The annual event sponsored by the Saint Michael’s Staff Welfare Committee allows faculty and staff the chance to give back to on-campus initiatives and off-campus partners. This year,115 volunteers from the College broke up into 12 teams and visited sites both on and off campus. On campus, teams worked in the Saint Michael’s Teaching Gardens, the Farm, and the Nature Trail. They cleaned out the residence halls, took down commencement in Ross Sports Center, and made animal toys in the MakerSpace for Lucy’s House. Off campus, the Saint Michael’s community visited the Camp Ta-Kum-Ta, Catamount, Rock Point School, Saint Francis School, Branch Out Burlington, and the Early Learning Center in Colchester. Afterwards, the community enjoyed lunch in Alliot together followed by Ben and Jerry’s ice cream outside.

“The day itself is a real win-win. We have the opportunity to help folks on and off campus who need a little support in various ways,” Shannon Bollhardt said, who is the Head Women’s Basketball Coach and part of the Staff Welfare Committee. “The best part of it, in my opinion, is our ability to spend time with colleagues that we know or might be meeting for the first time to come together and enjoy a space that’s carefree. The service component is incredible. But I think a lot of people will agree with me that the ability to interact with colleagues in a different way is just as meaningful.”