Ouachita’s Tiger Serve Day community service project set for April 10
March 19, 2010 - Amy Lynn Wentz
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 [email protected] or (870) 245-5320.
By Amy Lynn Wentz
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