Day of Service

The 100 Acre Wood is on the campus of Southern Wesleyan University. This developing area is the home to walking trails and a low ropes course for the SWU community. Participants can expect to cut and drag downed trees, trim brush, and possibly repair any damage to the trail bed. Moderate walking to the site is expected.

Asbury Hills is on 2,000 acres nestled in the northwest corner of South Carolina in the Blue Ridge mountains. Our mission is to serve all people for Christian birth, growth and renewal. We offer summer camp experiences for children and youth, and retreat events for children, youth, adults and families throughout the year serving churches, non-profit organizations and the community. Volunteers are needed for removing and hauling dead wood to burn piles, painting, window washing, planting flowers, and general outdoor work. Moderate travel to the site is expected.

Calvary Home for Children is a non-profit organization providing temporary housing to children in need. Volunteers will be helping Calvary Children's Home (CCH) with their spring cleaning. This may include cleaning in or around their buildings, helping with yard work, and/ or organizing clothes closets. We want to help CCH maintain their welcoming atmosphere and provide the house parents the opportunity to focus on the children instead of chores. Moderate travel to the site is expected.

The Central-Clemson Recreation Center (CCRC) is a “family facility that has been serving the upstate since 1998.” The center houses two basketball courts, a cardio studio, a state of the art weight room, and two pools in the aquatics area. Volunteers are expected to assist with cleaning and organization of the various areas and facility inventory. There will be some light painting in specific areas as well. Light travel to the site is expected.

The Criminal Justice House is a facility housed by the baseball field. This house has been used for school storage for several years. Cleaning and painting are needed to make the space suitable for a classroom and "practical crime scenes." Moderate walking to the site is expected.

Volunteers are needed to transport students and faculty to various off-campus sites. Students must have completed the University driving course and be listed on the University’s insurance as a driver. Volunteers are needed for the morning, afternoon, or all day.

Gleaning House Ministries (Pickens, SC) exists to glean the left over resources (food, clothing, etc.) of the fortunate and distribute it to the less fortunate of Pickens County. Students will be asked to help carry boxes of food out to clients. Volunteers are needed to also pack boxes for the upcoming week and assist clients with filling out paperwork. Light travel to the site is expected.

The Dream Center (Pickens, SC) is a faith-based non-profit organization focusing on providing mentoring programs to individuals and families that live below the poverty line. Volunteers are needed to provide light cleaning, office organization, and perform light office work. Light travel to the site is expected.

The Food Pantry is physically located roughly in the center of the county in Seneca, South Carolina. Recipients come from all over the county, principally from the three major cities of Seneca, Walhalla, and Westminster. The Food Pantry works closely with local churches, civic organizations and other charities in the County to identify and include needy families. Volunteers are needed to make boxes of non-perishable food items for senior citizens. Light travel to the site is expected.

The NCFCA (National Christian Forensics and Communications Association) is a homeschool organization of the highest order of excellence, offering speech and debate competition on a major current issue.  Community judges are used, which includes university students, and we have been invited to bring students for a day of service.  The competition is in Anderson, SC and volunteers will be expected to assist in judging debates and speeches.

The Pickens County Library System (PCLS) has been in existence since 1935 starting in Edwin Bolt's store where it was just two bookcases. Now with eight branches throughout the county, PCLS continues to support the needs of Pickens residents. Serving the towns of Central and Clemson, the Central-Clemson branch is located near Central Town Hall. Volunteers will be needed to assist with library inventory, shelf restocking, general organization and cleaning. Light transportation to the project site will be provided.

The Potter's Place, located in Central, provides an environment of quiet solitude in which those who come can seek God and be molded into the vessel "The Potter" desires. Volunteers are needed for removing and hauling dead wood to burn piles, painting, window washing, planting flowers, and general outdoor work.

Participants will be performing scenes from the 2015 SWU spring musical, “The Sound of Music.” If you are not part of the cast or stage crew, but interested in providing additional support, please contact Dr. Melanie Rowell. Light travel to the site is expected.

Southern Wesleyan Student Activities is using the Day of Service to organize several storage facilities. Participants can expect to assemble or build both furniture and shelving for storage areas. Volunteers will also be asked to organize inventory and assist the Student Activities team with setting up for SWU’s first Drive-In Movie (movie on the Lawn) that evening.

Table Rock Wesleyan Camp is a year-round camp, conference and retreat center, nestled at the foot of one the area’s most scenic mountains, Table Rock. The site has over 200 acres adjacent to Table Rock State Park in Pickens, SC and serves as the host site for functions of the SC District of the Wesleyan Church and its offices. Volunteers are needed for both indoor and outdoor work. Moderate travel to the site is expected.

Volunteers are needed to travel to the different DOS sites and collect pictures and video of the different projects. Volunteers will also be asked to edit video footage. This is a closed project sponsored by Lewis Knight. Volunteers signing up for this project must first obtain approval from Professor Knight.