Union College students are skipping classes on Thursday for a good cause. Project Impact is the longest-running collegiate service day in the country and is a day where more than 600 students and employees will donate their time to Lincoln’s social service agencies and neighborhoods. This is the 41st year for the program.
More than 80 percent of the campus population at Union College volunteers their time and serves nearly 30 Lincoln organizations to help them prepare for another year of service. Project Impact’s mission is to create opportunities for Union students to connect with Lincoln service agencies, leading to long-term volunteer experiences.
The annual volunteer day began in 1981 as an initiative to paint the homes of elderly and disabled residents of the Lincoln community. It’s estimated that 24,000 volunteers have worn the signature Project Impact t-shirts while contributing more than 140,000 volunteer hours over 40 years.
Volunteers mainly contribute hours to complete tasks that agencies do not have time to accomplish, such as dusting, raking, mopping, washing, filing, organizing, shoveling, painting and building. Students will also be helping with food packing and distribution.
Organizations benefiting from the volunteer work include Center for People in Need, Matt Talbot Kitchen and Outreach, Shepherd’s Rest Goat and Sheep Rescue, Capital Humane Society, People’s City Mission Help Center and Bennett Martin Public Library.
(Photo: Union College Facebook)