Students support community causes

Sophomore Michael Scott competes against resident Joan Stewart in Wii Bowling at Independence Village, a retirement community in Winston-Salem.

About 150 volunteers from Wake Forest fraternities and sororities played video games with residents at Independence Village, sorted clothing for the Salvation Army, cleaned cages at the Forsyth Humane Society, labeled storm drains and lent a hand at several other Winston-Salem agencies on Saturday, Feb. 26.

The volunteers worked from 11 a.m to 1 p.m.  Called the “Big Event,” the initiative is sponsored by the Volunteer Service Corps and organized in cooperation with representatives from the Panhellenic and Interfraternity councils on campus.

Wake Forest students at Independence VillageSarah Sparks, a student who helped organize the project, said, “The ‘Big Event’ is a great way for students to exemplify the motto of ‘Pro Humanitate’.  The event also exposes all the different ways to get involved in Winston-Salem. This is the first year for the event, and we’ve had incredible support from the different Greek organizations on campus.”

The organizations helped and projects done were:

  • Wake Saturdays: Preparing and serving meals to the homeless
  • City of Winston-Salem Storm Water: Labeling storm drains throughout Winston-Salem
  • Forsyth Humane Society: Cleaning cages, playing and walking animals
  • Salvation Army: Sorting clothing
  • Independence Village: Visiting with residents and playing Wii
  • Habitat Restore: Sorting items
  • Keep Winston-Salem Beautiful: Various outdoor projects
  • Office of Sustainability Game Day Recycling: Drilling holes in bins for tailgating area

Categories: Community, For Alumni, For Parents, Pro Humanitate, Student, Top Stories, Wake Forest College