Chello Gardner (middle) and other Day of Caring volunteers at CHATT Foundation. Photo by Angela Foster.
Chello Gardner was up bright and early for the 7:45 a.m. check-in at Lupton Hall.
As a group leader for United Way of Greater Chattanooga’s Day of Caring, she joined fellow University of Tennessee at Chattanooga students, faculty and staff during the service initiative on Friday, Sept. 20.
Groups of volunteers went to six Hamilton County locations—including Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Red Bank Middle School, YMCA, CHATT Foundation, Normal Park Trail and UTC’s campus—to participate in service activities such as cleaning, sorting, painting, mowing, mulching and writing cards.
“I don’t care what time service is,” said Gardner, a senior communication major from Memphis. “If you tell me it’s at six o’clock in the morning, I will be there at six o’clock in the morning ready for service.
“I love giving back to the community.”
Daniel Grzesik, director of Leadership Development and Programs in the UTC Office of Housing and Residence Life, said that registration doubled from last year’s Day of Caring with about 75 volunteers.
“We are Chattanooga’s University,” Grzesik said, “so that means we’ve got to engage and we’ve got to make a difference. We’re excited to do that with the community.”
Grace Affoumou, a sophomore environmental science major from Nashville, said she chose to volunteer for more service experiences in her new community.
Grace Affoumou
“I’m here because I wanted to give back,” Affoumou said. “I do community service in Nashville, and I haven’t really done any in Chattanooga, so it’s a perfect opportunity to do it.”
Participating in the Day of Caring was of utmost importance to Vice Chancellor for Access and Engagement Stacy Lightfoot.
Lightfoot, born and raised in Chattanooga, said her entire life has been dedicated to community service. She even briefly moved to Jamaica, where she received a master’s degree in international service.
“I hope today that you walk out of those doors as proud Mocs, representing what it means to be part of Chattanooga’s University and to serve a community that I call home,” Lightfoot said in a welcome speech to the volunteers at the program kickoff in Lupton Hall.
“You could be anywhere else this morning, but you chose to be here today. I cannot wait for you to come back and I’m excited talking about where you are, what you’ve done and how you’ve changed.”
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Photo gallery by Angela Foster
