How you can Volunteer this Semester with McMurry Serves
McMurry Serves is an annual tradition and a volunteer opportunity for McMurry students, faculty, staff, alumni, and families to come together as a community and serve others in Abilene! There are many volunteer opportunities open to anyone and everyone right now. Registering to volunteer is very simple, and a list of all projects can be found here.
One of the volunteer events that I recently participated in was “Feed our Neighbors”. Yesterday morning, some McMurry students and I went to Love and Care ministries to help serve breakfast. Love and Care ministries is an outreach ministry that reaches all walks of life. They serve the Homeless and poor by providing meals, clothing, and assistance. We also sat and had conversations with visitors and it was an overall wonderful experience. It really showed me how just a free meal or a nice conversation can brighten up someone’s day. If you are ever wanting to volunteer, they serve breakfast and lunch Monday-Thursday every week and are always needing extra help!
I asked Program Director and Servant Leadership Professor Jeff Scott more about McMurry Serves. “In the past McMurry Serves was a one-day event every Spring,” Scott said. “Eventually, it became a week-long, and for the last two years, a month-long initiative. Going forward I would like to expand McMurry Serves into the fall as well. To ensure continued success, we need greater student, faculty, staff, and alumni participation. Service is a core value of the university, and McMurry Serves is a prime opportunity for our campus community to demonstrate it. It’s not too late to engage right now – with several events upcoming and an ongoing collection of sunscreen, bug spray, and funds for bottled water for donation to the West Texas Homeless Network.”
If you do not have time to volunteer, donating is another very helpful option! As Scott said, there is an “Ensure Summer Survival” drive happening right now for the West Texas Homeless Network. Collection bins can be found at the entrances of the Campus Center, or simply donate using this link and McMurry will purchase items to distribute.
I hope that you are able to get involved in some way with McMurry Serves in the few weeks left of the semester. Any help would be greatly appreciated!