On Friday, August 21, 110 Regent University School of Law students, faculty and alumni joined forces to serve the Hampton Roads area through community service projects. Participants volunteered at six different sites—Union Mission, Habitat for Humanity (Norfolk and Virginia Beach), Norfolk Law Library, Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia—completing approximately 550 hours of community service in just one day."The overall response to Regent Law's Community Service event was astounding," said Val Johnson, a Regent Law student career services staff member. "It's exciting to know that so many students and alumni are dedicated to meeting the needs of others."
The purpose of the day was to increase outreach in the local community, as well as to bridge the gap between students and alumni and to become advocates of Regent's mission, which involves actively working towards change and impact on the world.
Volunteers at the various locations were able to distribute and sort through more than 4000 lbs. of donated food, re-structure book shelves at the library, conduct grounds maintenance, work on light construction projects, help boost the Chesapeake Bay's oyster population through packaging oyster shells, and clean and organize the Habitat for Humanity stores in Virginia Beach and Norfolk.
One of workers said that it would have taken him weeks to clear the Habitat for Humanity-Norfolk area, while the volunteers were able to do so within a matter of hours. They moved mattresses, doors, desks and windows as part of the process.
"I hope this event prompted students and alumni to engage in a lifestyle of service," Johnson said. "It only takes a few hours to make a tremendous difference in the lives of others."