On April 30, 2016, a compassionate group of HIU students and staff invested their time and energy in OC United’s “Unite for Cities” project, spending a Saturday afternoon serving the local community. The HIU group volunteered at Nicolas Junior High, sprucing up the campus by repairing benches and re-mulching planters. As part of the “Love Fullerton” initiative, our group of students and staff also helped with registration and passed out refreshments to participants before the service projects began.

“Unite for Cities” organizes thousands of volunteers from all over Orange County to beautify local schools, install drought resistant landscape, reach out to at-risk youth, spruce up neighborhoods, and care for people in need through many different volunteer service projects.

“This is our second year participating with Love Fullerton, and it is great to see how much is has grown!” reported Bryan Sands, HIU’s Director of Campus Ministries. “I am always impressed by how much our students love to serve. What we did was not glamorous but our students were still more than willing. Not only did they embody the mission of our university to “prepare servant leaders” but they were living examples of Jesus’ love and compassion. I am always so proud of our students— especially because they woke up early on a Saturday to work hard without pay. That speaks volumes of their true character and sense of civic responsibility.”

The “Love Fullerton” service day originated in 2014 and continues to grow and make a larger impact each year. This year over 2,700 people volunteered in over 80 projects.

For more information on local ongoing service projects visit OC United or Love Fullerton.