PRESS RELEASE: SEPTEMBER 13, 2024
Day of giving, community service at SJR State
Life South Blood Drive
Putnam Animal Control
Nearly 80 St. Johns River State College employees and students from the Orange Park, Palatka and St. Augustine campuses joined forces today with 12 organizations to assist in the College’s semiannual Vikings Day of Service. The day included 250 pounds of roadside trash gathered, 27 blood donors, pressure washing, countless shelves restocked, and a shelter full of animals receiving a day of cuddles and care.
Service locations included Clay Education Foundation, Orange Park High School, Keep Putnam Beautiful, Putnam Animal Control, the Homeless Coalition of St. Johns, St. Johns County Roadway Cleanup, the St. Francis House, St. Gerard Campus and more.
The service day is also a perfect opportunity for employees to replenish the College’s student food pantry - the Viking Exchange. Hundreds of items were donated to restock necessities at college’s three campus locations. The Viking Exchange was established in 2021 to make food, school supplies and personal care items easily accessible to current students in need – no questions asked.
SJR State President Joe Pickens said the College looks forward to its service day held each spring and fall. “I’m proud of our college community and their eagerness to lend a helping hand to improve our community and for the lives we touch outside of the classroom,” Pickens said. “The camaraderie the day brings draws us all closer as a college family.”
In 2019, SJR State Senior Vice President Melanie Brown spearheaded the event to engage employees and students as volunteers in meaningful service opportunities that address the community’s needs. “This is our sixth year of sustaining service events and growing SJR State’s community involvement,” Brown said. “The reason St. Johns River State College is so special is because of the dedication of our faculty and staff to our students and our communities.”
Additional photos from the Vikings Day of Service can be found at our Flickr page.
St. Johns County Roadway Cleanup
