Posted: 7/09/04
Hardin-Simmons volunteers show
neighbors 'we care' about the community
ABILENE–Hardin-Simmons University faculty, staff and students recently put on their work clothes and walked across the street from the Abilene campus to paint a neighbor's house.
The “Good Samaritan” project developed from a relationship the university's Neighborhood Enhancement Program Coordinator Linda Carleton developed with Rebecca Deatherage, a retired social worker who owns the house.
In conjunction with Abilene's Connecting Caring Communities Program, Deatherage is the first Caring Partner to be identified in the HSU neighborhood.
| Robert Hamner, senior professor of English and humanities at Hardin-Simmons University, prepares window trim for painting a Hardin-Simmons University neighbor's house as part of the university's Neighborhood Enhancement Program and as a way of saying "we care" to neighborhood residents. (Brenda Harris Photo) |
Caring Partners volunteer one hour per week to build relationships with people on their block. A “We Care” sign is posted in their yards to identify them as Caring Partners. The Caring Partners also wear “We Care” pins to identify them in the community in order to raise awareness of the program.
The house is being painted this summer as a one-time community project in appreciation for Deatherage's work with the HSU Neighborhood Enhancement Program. She is working to take oral histories from residents in the neighborhood surrounding Hardin-Simmons for a newsletter.
The Neighborhood Enhancement Program has been established at HSU as part of President Craig Turner's initiative to involve the university family in community outreach.
Dan Cooper, professor of sociology and social work and director of international studies, is master carpenter for the project. The first two days of work consisted of scraping off old paint and caulk. Paint crews began next, and others provided minor repairs to trim and windows.
We seek to connect God’s story and God’s people around the world. To learn more about God’s story, click here.
Send comments and feedback to Eric Black, our editor. For comments to be published, please specify “letter to the editor.” Maximum length for publication is 300 words.