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Students sacrificed their Saturday morning to give back to the community and help with worldwide causes.
The 15th annual Day of Service brought a record number of people together — more than 330 students and community members, who went out and performed various projects around Carbondale.
Paul Restivo, director of the Center for Environmental Health and Safety, said he is proud of the effort the students went through to create a better environment.
“The students are doing wonderful work,” Restivo said. “And they deserve the credit.”
Students not only got general recognition for their services, but can also get acknowledgment on their official transcripts if they complete more than 30 hours of volunteer work.
Larry Dietz, vice chancellor of Student Affairs, said he thinks the volunteering mentality is getting popular among all students.
“The groups are so different,” Dietz said. “We’re very proud that the students are the core of this.”
Projects completed on the Day of Service included: painting the Carbondale Boys and Girls Club, making bird feeders for the Audubon Society of Southern Illinois, working with Carbondale Main Street on downtown landscaping and beautification, tidying up the city with Keep Carbondale Beautiful and creating T-shirts for AIDS orphans in Zambia.
Michaela Bazar, a senior from Carterville studying English, said the Day of Service was important as well as enjoyable.
“It’s a necessary thing,” Bazar said, who picked up trash with Keep Carbondale Beautiful. “It’s just good for the environment and the aesthetic value.”
Rachael McIndoo, a sophomore from Oakbrook Terrace studying art history and oil panting, said she enjoyed helping out and making a difference.
“The environment needs help,” McIndoo said. “It’s good to get involved.”
Mythili Rundblad, coordinator for Student Development, said she has been involved with the Day of Service for 10 years. Last year, volunteer students in Carbondale raised more than $40,000 for nonprofit organizations across the county, she said.
“We have students that reach around the world,” Rundblad said. “What our students do goes beyond Carbondale.”
Rundblad said she was amazed the Day of Service brought so many students together, especially freshmen and transfer students.
“We have such a cross section of students,” she said. “I just love that aspect, when students work together.”
