It’s been 25 years since TCU faculty, staff and students fanned out across Fort Worth in a day of service.

In the early years, the event was limited to the fall and TCU only pitched in at sites that could take on 50 volunteers or more. Today, the event is held twice a year and volunteers are sent to sites of various sizes across the Metroplex.

The TCU Service Board has been preparing for the upcoming Day of Service on April 12 since January. 

“Since it is a process, you could say that it has taken 25 years to put together since we rely on the work done and lessons learned by previous editions of the Service Board,” said Sam Larsen, a senior economics and math major and the executive director of the TCU Service Board. 

Student involvement has grown in recent years due to the promotional efforts made by the board. It is their goal to celebrate 25 years by having the most volunteers to date.  

So far, 600 volunteers have signed up to serve across 14 sites including: 

• Mayfest: Volunteers will assist with cleaning and organizing trailers, which will be used as offices at the upcoming Mayfest festival.  

• Faith, Hope, & Love Outreach Center: Volunteers will assist in the beautification of the campus.  

• Adventures in Riding with Miss Julie: Volunteers will assist in enhancing the overall appearance of the facility.  

• Cook Children’s Hospital: Volunteers will make busy books, toiletry kits and sensory kits.  

• Meals on Wheels: Volunteers will assist in packing breakfast meals and other items to be delivered to clients over the course of the week. 

• Academy 4: Volunteers will prepare supplies for upcoming sessions of Spark Clubs.  

• Clear Fork Assisted Living & Memory Care: Volunteers will garden, plant and water courtyards in preparation for Green Thumb Club.

• Glenwood Park: Volunteers will collect trash over 39 acres.  

• Trinity River Cleanup: Volunteers will work in teams to clean up the Trinity River.  

• Dog Toy Making: Volunteers will make dog toys and drive them to a local animal shelter.  

• Hygiene Kit Making: Volunteers will package hygiene kits to be donated to a local shelter.  

• Presbyterian Night Shelter: Volunteers will assemble hygiene kits and take inventory of the main kitchen, pantry and freezer areas.  

• Botanic Gardens: Volunteers will work in the butterfly exhibit at the Botanic Gardens.  

• Meadowbrook Elementary School: Volunteers will paint murals of encouraging words around the school to motivate students.  

“We hope that this day instills a new passion in our volunteers to continue these important efforts throughout the whole year,” said Amanda Whitley, a senior majoring in earth systems science who serves as the assistant director of Volunteer Recruitment. 

Already, TCU students have attended TCU Week of Service events such as a volunteer fair, blood drive, wellness fair, a farmers market, and numerous other smaller events.

TCU Week of Service’s most attended event is the TCU Volunteer Fair. The fair brings non-profits from around the DFW to the TCU campus to pitch themselves to students in hopes of finding short-term and long-term volunteers.

“I was able to complete the volunteer hours I needed for my scholarship while also serving the community I grew up in,” Bryan Lopez, a freshman community scholar at TCU said.

 To sign up for TCU Day of Service visit Engage.