Bushnell Serves Community During 18th Annual ETC Day

EUGENE, Ore. – Bushnell University recently continued one of its signature fall traditions with the 18th annual Embrace the Community Day, as hundreds of students, faculty and staff stepped beyond campus to serve alongside nonprofits, schools, parks and community organizations throughout Eugene and Springfield.

What began nearly two decades ago as the vision of a Bushnell student has grown into a university-wide tradition that puts Bushnell’s commitment to service into action. Across dozens of community sites, Beacon teams worked alongside local partners on projects ranging from environmental restoration and groundskeeping to assembling supplies, organizing spaces and supporting programs serving children, families and neighbors.

Throughout Eugene, volunteers helped care for some of the community’s shared outdoor spaces. At the Alton Baker Canoe Canal, students removed invasive ivy and extended the life of cottonwood trees, while teams at Hendricks Park and Washburne Park assisted with forest care and landscaping. Volunteers also supported the MADD Garden at Alton Baker Park, a regional memorial garden serving Idaho, Washington and Oregon, and participated in creation care projects with Nearby Nature.

Other teams spent the day supporting organizations addressing food access and community well-being. Students assisted with farm work at Food for Lane County, while volunteers at Cornerstone Community Housing assembled snack bags and meal kits. At the Lane County Diaper Bank, teams packed diapers for local families, and volunteers with HIV Alliance assembled kits to support the organization’s work.

Service projects also addressed practical needs for organizations throughout the area. At the Eugene Mission, volunteers organized books and warehouse materials and helped clean spaces serving women and children. Teams at Catholic Community Services assisted with gardening, clothing organization, pantry stocking and other projects, while volunteers at ShelterCare cleaned vehicles used in its work. At Sponsors Inc., students helped clear a storm drain on the organization’s property.

At Greenhill Humane Society, students helped with weeding, mulching and cleaning dog crates. At Everyone Village, volunteers spread bark and prepared the grounds for a large community event. Other groups completed projects with The Arc Lane County, St. Vincent de Paul, Relief Nursery, CASA, BRING Recycling and Camp Harlow.

At Everyone Village, volunteers spread bark and prepared the grounds for an upcoming event designed to bring together people from across the Eugene community.

For some teams, the day centered on relationships as much as hands-on work. Volunteers spent time connecting with residents at Eugene Hotel Retirement, while students served in classrooms at Dos Rios, assisting teachers and reading with students. Other volunteers completed projects at Westminster Presbyterian School, while groups also served alongside Youth for Christ, Connected Lane County, The Shedd, SquareOne Villages and Love for Lane County.

Athletic teams, First-Year Seminar groups, faculty and staff were among the many members of the Bushnell community participating across the region. Although the projects differed from site to site, each provided an opportunity to listen to community partners, respond to tangible needs and contribute to work already taking place throughout Eugene and Springfield.

Embrace the Community Day reflects Bushnell’s belief that learning and formation extend beyond the classroom. Service is a central part of the university’s mission to foster wisdom, faith and service within a Christ-centered community, and ETC Day gives students an opportunity to put those values into practice alongside the neighbors and organizations that help make Eugene and Springfield home.

To explore photos from this year’s Embrace the Community Day, visit our 2026 ETC Day photo album.