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March 7, 2024

Day of Service

The Southwest Virginia Community College, Day of Service will take place on Thursday, March 7, 2024, between 9:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

The college is partnering with The Outreach Program (Outreach) to facilitate a food packaging event where students, faculty, and staff will package 37,000 meals.

We need you to participate!

Foods like pasta noodles and sauce and mac and cheese will arrive in bulk on Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Outreach will provide measuring tools, scales, bagging equipment, and bag sealers to package the food. Each bag we make will contain 6 meals. Meals will then be boxed (36 bags per box) and prepared to deliver to food pantries.

Four timeslots will last for an hour and a half each. 

You’ll check in on the hour to get trained and receive gloves, hairnets, etc. You may also move supplies as needed and help prep the area for packaging.

Where: Ratliff Commons – Dellinger Hall

Wednesday, March 6

Load-in

  • (Time TBA)

Thursday, March 7 

Food Packaging 

  • 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
  • 10:00 a.m. -11:30 a.m. 
  • 11:00 a.m. -12:30 p.m. 
  • 12:00(noon)-1:30 p.m.
  • 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Load-out volunteers
(Hey strong people, this is where we need you!) 

  • 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
the outreach program

The Mission of Outreach Meal Packaging Events

The mission of Outreach is to provide safe water, food, medical care, and education to children and those in need, both at home and abroad. As a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, over the last 18 years, Outreach has helped to package nearly 580 million meals that have been distributed across the United States and around the world.

Outreach Meal Packaging Events are conducted across the United States. These events engage businesses, religious and civic organizations, schools, and volunteers of all ages to package nutritious meals for the hungry. In response to numerous requests for meals focused on domestic hunger, Outreach partnered with Iowa State University’s Food Science Department to create nutritious and delicious meals with a domestic emphasis.

About the Day of Service

Southwest Virginia Community College and President Tommy Wright place a priority on service learning and on giving back to the communities that give us so much. 

During the Day of Service, students, faculty, and staff spend the day working to complete service projects in Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell, and/or Tazewell County. This one-day event is a unique opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to contribute to and learn about our service area while at the same time getting to know classmates, faculty, and staff.

What happens?

On the Day of Service, registered students meet their team leaders at their assigned service location.  These groups will engage in a morning of service, repairs, clean-up, and renovations. Alternatively, some groups, clubs, classes, and programs will participate in their own service activities.

What if I have a project idea?

Community members, we want to hear from you!  We would love to know about projects that we can do to help enhance our communities. Maybe you know of an area that can be cleaned or an elderly neighbor who needs help maintaining their property. Please let us know by calling 276-964-7365 or email brandon.hensley@sw.edu. We accept suggestions for the upcoming Day of Service but are only able to accept a limited number, so early requests are recommended.  Project requests will be vetted by a committee to ensure that they can be completed in less than four hours, require a minimal amount of supplies, and be realistic for our teams. 

What if I want to participate?

Students, this is a great opportunity for you to give back to your community and build a resume that shows your commitment to service.  Register by completing the student sign-up form. The signup form will be available a few weeks before the next day of service.

If you are a community organization within Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell, or Tazewell Counties and would like to participate in the Day of Service, please contact Campus & Community Engagement Coordinator, Brandon Hensley, 276-964-7365, brandon.hensley@sw.edu.


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All Locations: 2-Hour Delay on Monday, January 22, 2024.