Salt Lake Community College and the Thayne Center hosted their first ever Day of Service on Friday, Sept. 8.
Over 150 SLCC students, staff, and faculty were divided into volunteer groups to work at several different project sites. Service projects varied from planting trees and pulling weeds, to giving food and support to several populations in Salt Lake Valley.
Each site was determined based off the needs of 13 of the Thayne Center’s community partners, including the Boys and Girls Clubs in Murray and Sugarhouse, Salt Lake County Youth Services, the Maliheh Free Clinic, TreeUtah, Wasatch Community Gardens, the Jordan River Commission and the Utah Food Bank.
Volunteers received “SLCC Serves” t-shirts to celebrate the day and commemorate their service.
While the Day of Service has passed, there are still plenty of ways to serve the community.
SLCC President Deneece G. Huftalin announced a new Civic Action Plan that provides 3,000 SLCC employees with 24 hours of paid leave for community service each year. Huftalin explained that the plan will incentivize employees to participate in more local community service initiatives.
Since the Day of Service, the Thayne Center has also continued their community involvement. Staff members recently educated Utahns about disaster preparedness at the Be Ready Utah Conference and Expo, and are now getting ready to host another big event, the Utah Higher Education Food Summit, as a way to combat food waste and hunger on campus and in the community.
To volunteer at the Food Summit or any future service activities offered through the Thayne Center, call 801-957-4555.
