Reaching others through service is one goal of Ouachita. Tiger Serve Day (TSD) is an event that will help reach that goal.
“We live in the middle of a community that has great need,” said Judy Duvall, assistant director of the Elrod Center. “There are senior adults, single moms, disabled individuals and others who could greatly benefit from the services that this day provides.”
TSD takes months to organize. The leadership team is comprised of 18 students chosen “for their leadership and involvement in serving others” according to Duvall.
The leadership team handles the publicity, recruitment, finding and visiting projects, organizing and purchasing tools. They mail information to students, make announcements, hang posters throughout campus, send e-mails and extend personal invitations.
The leadership committee is split into four groups – publicity, teams, projects and logistics. Senior Cami Jones is serving her sixth semester on the leadership team and is on the projects team.
“It is [the projects team’s] job to find projects in the Arkadelphia community,” Jones said. “We visit each project before TSD to get specific information about the project.”
Senior Lindsey Baker is chair of the teams committee. The team’s main goals are recruiting volunteers and then matching those volunteers with a project that coordinates with the team’s make-up. She encourages freshmen to volunteer.
“Freshmen really need to know how much this means to our community,” Baker said. “These projects that come to us are for people who really need help. We don’t just provide service that day, but we provide encouragement and love, showing that students care about more than what is just going on in their lives.”
Baker thinks everyone should be involved.
“How are we going to help the world if we aren’t willing to start with our community,” Baker said.
Tiger Serve Day is expected to draw around 600 volunteers, with teams composed of eight to 10 students. Volunteers will be raking, trimming bushes, cleaning out flowerbeds, washing cars, painting, washing windows and other jobs that can be done in three hours.
“There is something wonderful about so many people gathering together to meet needs,” Duvall said. “As 600 volunteers disperse throughout this small community a spirit of encouragement, joy and hope is given to the community. The teams that work together bond and new friendships are formed. The individuals who are served are greatly helped and needs are met.”
The morning of TSD is greatly anticipated by those involved according to Duvall.
“There will be an air of celebration and excitement as the volunteers gather on Jones parking lot,” Duvall said. “They will be able to enjoy the wonderful music of OBU’s Jazz Band, eat Krispy Kreme donuts, pick up a new TSD T-shirt and get tools and job assignments for the morning.”
Jones looks forward to the gathering of students after the work’s been completed.
“I love hearing stories about groups of friends serving,” Jones said. “How the people in Arkadelphia respond to our service, the crazy stories about some projects, and how much fun everyone had serving. Listening to these stories encourages me and makes all the hard work the leadership team puts into TSD worth it.”
Relationships are one result from the day’s work.
“Many times the relationships formed on this day between volunteers and individuals in the community continue and service is provided throughout the year,” Duvall said. “Through all of this, Christ is honored.”
Jones also believes that participating in TSD honors God.
“As a leadership team, our desire for TSD is that it will be a day of service, community, unity, love, and honor to our Father,” Jones said. “It is also a great way to put your faith into action. As OBU students and Christians, we are called to serve and this is a great opportunity.”
In order to assign volunteers to projects, students are asked to sign up by Monday, September 21. Duvall says volunteers can still show up the morning of Sept. 26 and be put on a team.
Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to volunteer. Volunteers can sign up as a team and work together, or sign up individually to be placed on a team.
“Why would you not want to do TSD,” Jones said. “Free breakfast, free T-shirt, free lunch and you get to serve. Life doesn’t get much better than that.”
