Bushnell Embraces The City With Care

More than 300 Bushnell University students, staff, and faculty took time from classes on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020, to Embrace The Community (ETC) through volunteer work that supported 15 local non-profit organizations.

“Every Fall, ETC Day begins the service component of Bushnell’s commitment to deliver higher education based on wisdom, faith, and service that is woven into all that we do,” said Jennifer Little, M.A., Assistant Director of Residence Life and Coordinator for Campus Ministry. “During these uncertain times, it is important that our campus community is involved in local volunteer work that brings us together as a campus family to focus our attentions on the organizations and people who serve others.”

Students were divided into teams and then worked on various projects at non-profit organizations throughout Eugene and Springfield, including Luper Pioneer Cemetery, St. Vincent de Paul, Catholic Community Services, Greenhill Humane Society, Youth for Christ, Love for Lane County, Relief Nursery, Grassroots Garden, Eugene Mission, City of Eugene Parks, Camp Harlow, Springfield Youth Farm, CASA of Lane County, and Hope Reach Ministries. Plans were made carefully with each organization to ensure the safety of all, including students doing primarily outdoor work, wearing masks the entire time, maintaining social distance, and smaller team sizes.

“Service to others is not a one day event at Bushnell,” Little said. “Service is an approach to life, school, and relationships that permeates through the entire Bushnell student experience.”

Here is a link to the story and photos in the Oct. 7, 2020 in The Register-Guard at https://bit.ly/2IbUg67.

The next ETC Day will be in September 2021.