Student Life

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Service Day

On October 6, 2009, Bethel held its 21st annual Service Day. At 8:00 am, the group leaders met in the Everest-Rohrer Auditorium for a brief explanation of their responsibilities and what to expect for the day. They were given informational clipboards and signs with which to gather their group. Students arrived at 8:15 am, and were sent into the auditorium to find their group leader. Shawn Holtgren shared a brief devotional about service and then dismissed the groups accordingService Day to their bus number. As the students filed out of the auditorium, they picked up a Service Day t-shirt and a sack breakfast provided by Sodexho. Students and staff separated into their assigned vehicles which included twenty buses, four Bethel vehicles, and some personal cars and headed to their organization to arrive around 9:00 am.

During Service Day, 911 Bethel students and staff were able to serve at 47 different organizations and perform jobs that included raking and other yard work, removing old carpet, organizing, cleaning, internal demolition, weeding, picking up trash, packing boxes, sorting toys and clothes, painting, and reading to kids. Most of the organizations were in the Mishawaka/South Bend region, but there were also some places in Elkhart, Granger, Goshen, Bremen, Niles, and Wakarusa.

Between 12:30 and 1:30, when the work was done at the sites, groups came back to Bethel and enjoyed a lunch at the Dining Commons. The lunch consisted of hot dogs, nachos, corn dogs, French fries, and soft pretzels. The group leaders handed their clipboards, attendance sheets, completed evaluation forms, and signs to the Service Learning staff seated at a table outside the Dining Commons. The general attitude following Service Day was upbeat with a sense of accomplishment.

Freshmen Orientation and Block Service

Freshmen at Bethel are required to do eight hours of community service as part of their Block course requirements. During freshmen orientation, the class serves the city of Mishawaka, by helping with clean-up of the river bank area. This event counts for three of the required hours.

At some time during the first semester, Block professors and mentors arrange for their individual blocks to do a service project together lasting at least two hours. Participation in these two events combined with Service Day, meet the service requirement for Bethel College freshmen.

Operation Christmas Child

In 2008, during the month of November, several groups and individuals committed to participate in filling shoe box with gifts to give to children in need through Operation Christmas Child (OCC). The mission of OCC is to “bring joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes and the Good News of God's love.” Bethel College students donated 101 gift-filled shoe boxes!

Look for more information about Operation Christmas Child 2009 coming soon!

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Bethel College cancelled its classes from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Monday, January 19th, 2009 providing an ideal time slot for service within the community. The Service Learning Office matched community organizations with campus groups, teams, and clubs that chose to participate.  Seventeen Bethel College groups including the Men’s and Women’s Tennis teams, Men’s Soccer team, Spiritual Life group, and multiple residential halls joined in celebrating the spirit of the day with afternoon community service projects. In total, 181 students, faculty, and staff served more than 18 organizations and neighbors. These groups did a variety of service projects ranging from interacting with residents of a nursing home to cleaning and organizing to tutoring.

Princess for a Night

In cooperation with the Junior League of South Bend, Bethel College students helped to make Junior League’s annual “Princess for a Night” event take place. This event happened on Saturday March 29th at the College Football Hall of Fame from 9am - 1pm. The “Princess for a Night” event gives underprivileged high school girls the opportunity to come and pick out a prom dress for free, along with the chance to win several services (nails, tanning, etc.) from several local businesses. This is the Junior League's 5th year holding the event. A “Dress Drive” was planned from February 11th to March 15th, collecting new and gently used prom/formal dresses at locations around the community. Bethel College helped the Junior League by placing two boxes on campus, one in Shupe Hall and one in Tuckey Hall. 24 dresses were collected at Bethel.