Midland University’s opportunity to give back to the Fremont community will have a new look in 2021. Mission Day will be replaced by Mission Week as Midland students, faculty, staff, and alumni will participate in a variety of community service projects from April 12-18.
Mission Day had become a tradition as students and faculty would take a day off from classes to spend time serving the community. That changed in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the university to cancel Mission Day. With COVID-19 still a presence this spring, Sidney Hirsch, Director of Student Development, said several options were put on the table for Mission Day.
“Normally, we set aside a day with no classes where students and faculty can go out and serve the community, but not knowing what our COVID situation might be, we weren’t sure how everything would take place,” Hirsch said. “But we still wanted to do something, and everyone seemed open to it. Since we didn’t have a day set aside, we decided to make it a week. Our goal is 1,000 hours of service, so we are hoping each student can set aside one hour to help.”
Hirsch said the COVID situation is trending in the right direction on campus, making the decision to help serve the community an easier one. “We feel like we have good control of COVID and have done well following protocols, so we feel comfortable with students going out into the community, and the organizations we are helping are comfortable with it as well,” she said.
Several organizations in the Fremont area, along with a handful of individuals, have already signed up requesting help, and there are more slots available for anyone in need of volunteer assistance. There are a variety of service opportunities available, with everything from yard clean-up to pet care.
“It’s an awesome opportunity for our campus to get involved in the community,” Hirsch said. “We have students from all over the United States, as well as other countries, and Fremont is like a new home for them. It’s an opportunity for them to give back to Fremont and allow the community to be a part of them. There are lots of people who are in need, and we have the opportunity to help.”
The week will conclude with Jerome Reynolds ‘92, serving as a guest speaker as part of the Warrior Code Speaker Series on April 18th.
“If I genuinely want the world to be a better place, and I can start by sharing what I have learned by experience and what teachers taught me,” Reynolds said. “Sowing these seeds in the souls of students produces good fruit. Mission Week is one of many opportunities to plant in good soil. Students who want to be successful will exploit this opportunity to help themselves, and Mission Week is a great opportunity.”
Any Midland student, faculty member, staff member, or alumni interested in volunteering, as well as organizations and individuals in need of assistance, can email Warriorskills@midlandu.edu.
