ARKADELPHIA, Ark.—Ouachita Baptist University’s Ben M. Elrod Center for Family & Community is organizing the 13th annual Spring Tiger Serve Day for Saturday, April 10.
“Tiger Serve Day is the signature event of the Elrod Center for Family & Community,” said Ian Cosh, director of the Elrod Center. “It provides a mass introduction to community service, but its goal is to meet the practical needs of people in our community.”
Ouachita students, faculty and staff gather at the Elrod Center at 8:30 a.m., divide into teams, collect needed tools and work at assigned volunteer projects throughout the community until noon. Projects typically range from raking leaves and washing windows to painting and minor home repair projects.
Tiger Serve Day is the largest volunteer event in the city of Arkadelphia. During the past two years, more than 600 students have participated each semester in Tiger Serve Day. “It is a demonstration of practical concern and love for the city of which we are a part,” Cosh said. “Plus, it is teaching future leaders the importance of being a productive member of your community.”
“The goal of Tiger Serve Day is that those being served will not only be physically helped, but that they will see and experience the undeniable love, grace and peace of the God of the universe,” said Nancy Christner, a senior dietetics/nutrition major from Denton, Texas.
“Life on earth is about proclaiming the kingdom of God and reaching out to those in need,” Christner said. “I believe that Tiger Serve Day is a true representation of what Ouachita is really about: vision, integrity and service.”
“It is a day for the Ouachita family to get out of the ‘bubble’ and serve those around us,” said Cami Jones, a senior early childhood education major from Mansfield, Texas. “A lot of times people view Ouachita as the Christian school in the corner of Arkadelphia. Tiger Serve Day allows us to show the love of Christ and show that we care for people.”
Tiger Serve Day is coordinated by a leadership team of students who work together to organize and guide the event every semester. “I have been a part of the leadership team for seven semesters and have enjoyed every minute of it,” Jones said. “However, the most important thing I have learned is that if you use a megaphone to promote, it will get people to sign up.”
“It has been a joy to see how a spirit of service has invaded the campus through the efforts of the Elrod Center,” Cosh said.
For more information about Tiger Serve Day, contact Judy Duvall, assistant director of the Elrod Center, at duvallj@obu.edu or (870) 245-5320.
