Day of service brings students, community members together

Interested in making North Adams a better place, as well as meeting a diverse group of people within the community? The Twentieth Annual Community Day of Service is coming up on May 5 and is the perfect place to do so.

Lorraine B. Maloney a volunteer coordinator at the College started up the Community Day of Service twenty years ago, according to Spencer Moser director of the Center for Service.

“This event is one massive energized day. There are usually around 200 people who sign up. While the majority of students, there has been an increase of community residents over the past couple of years,” Moser said.

Last year, there were a total of 19 community service sites. Moser mentioned the following ideas for this year’s sites: helping businesses on Main Street, cleaning and refurbishing local parks, painting the seats at Joe Wolfe Stadium, prepping the Windsor Campgrounds for the summer season, painting crosswalks downtown, as well planting vegetable gardens.

“Students and members of the community have given their ideas for what they think needs to be done, and we are still accepting more,” Moser said.

So far 60 people have signed up for this year’s Community Day of Service. Moser expects a lot more in the next few weeks.

“We see a big improvement in the turn out every year and increase in involvement of local residents” he said.

Moser coordinates the event in partnership with city officials and local leaders. Glenn Maloney has been Moser’s strongest partner, and has been a factor in the event’s evolution. Mayor Alcombright, as well as the organization Develop North Adams (DNA), also helped to coordinate the event.

Moser explained that the impact of this event goes far beyond all the good work done on the actual day. The Community Day of Service brings the College campus and the North Adams community together in a real way.

“Different walks of life congregate and learn about each other,” Moser said. “Students and residents get to roll up their sleeves and plant flower beds and clean up water ways. The physical act of service generates conversation and helps build community, and undoubtedly we all get to learn something new about each other, and often find commonality and shared interests – thus bringing people together.”

“This event brings in a concrete way the College and community together. It produces relationships and allows this invisible wall between college and community to dissolve,” Moser added.

For more information, contact Moser at 413-662-5251, or visit the Center for Service office at room 307 of the Amsler Campus Center.

by Holly Johnston
Staff Writer

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