TCU’s Day of Service: Students set to positively impact the community

By Alexis Garcia, Staff Writer

Published Oct 17, 2024

Students draw a mural as a part of TCU Day of Service 2023. (Courtesy of The Office of Leadership and Student Involvement)

TCU students can volunteer with 38 community organizations on Saturday, Oct. 19, as a part of TCU’s annual Day of Service.

The biggest one-day volunteer opportunity in Fort Worth kicks off with breakfast and an opening ceremony before students head to various on or off-campus sites.

Students can sign up for activities such as mural painting, campus beautification, decorating, gardening, donation sorting and more on Engage.

There are 1,800 volunteer spots available and around 60 service leaders this year; organizers expect a large turnout.

Students gather in the Campus Commons for TCU Day of Service 2023. (Katie Mitchell/Staff Writer)

Event planning started last spring with Bryan Partika, the coordinator of leadership and experiential learning, and 10 members of the student director board.

“One thing that I am really proud of with TCU Day of Service is that any organization that wants to be a part of it can,” Partika said. “They just have to go through the vetting process, fill out a form and open the sign-up to get them volunteers for the big day.”

Partika highlighted the event’s growth, saying he was given a list of 20 to 25 community partners several years ago, and the number has grown to about 175 this year.

TCU does not turn any community organizations away. That said, they cannot guarantee volunteers on the Day of Service, Partika said.

Student volunteers make sandwiches for a local homeless shelter as part of TCU Day of Service 2021. (Courtesy of Cata Arias)

One of the premier events is the volunteer fair, an opportunity for community members to recruit students for potential internships and job opportunities.

Aside from free t-shirts and lunch, Cassandra Flores, the director of the Day of Service, wants to remind students how rewarding volunteering can be.

“I think volunteering is always a super fulfilling experience,” Flores said. “You get to meet so many people and have so much fun while also giving back to your community. I would encourage anyone who can to do it.”

The Office of Leadership and Student Involvement encourages students and service leaders to build lasting connections with the leaders of nonprofits or school districts because the impact can extend beyond the Day of Service.

Interested students can follow @tcu_volunteering on Instagram for more information.