PLAINVIEW—A cold and damp Saturday might not have been the ideal weather conditions for a community workday. But about 250 students and employees of Wayland Baptist University pressed on despite foggy, chilly temperatures to serve city organizations in the fourth annual Degree of Difference Day held for the university.

Wayland Baptist University student Luke Ingraham tackles some hammering duties at the newest home being built by Habitat for Humanity in Plainview. (PHOTOS/Wayland Baptist University)

Organized through the offices of public relations and student activities, the day included morning work projects in a variety of locations. Students worked alongside faculty and staff doing everything from hanging drywall and painting to roofing and cleaning.

Two large groups worked at Habitat for Humanity’s newest home on West 28th Street, where a crew roofed one home, and the Wee Care Child Care Center, where workers helped with sheetrock, cleaning away construction debris and painting the new facility being overseen by David Wilder.

“This just shows you what a lot of people can do as opposed to just five or six,” said Wilder as students hauled sheetrock, insulated and painted all over the large facility. “They definitely got a lot done today.”

Cleaning and organizing was the order of the day at a warehouse and office owned by Producing Warriors for God, a new ministry in town; Compassionate Care Pregnancy Center, which ministers to women going through crisis pregnancies; and Happy Union Baptist Church.

A crew painted the former College Hill Daycare in appreciation for longtime owners and operators J.D. and Frances Sams, who retired after more than 40 years of service to Plainview through the daycare.

Wayland Baptist University students Laura Higgs and Carmen Guzman helped paint several areas in the new facility at Wee Care Child Care Center during Wayland’s Degree of Difference Day. (PHOTOS/Wayland Baptist University)

A new service organization, Sigma Phi Lambda, worked together to sort donations at the Crisis Center of the Plains’ Broadway Treasures store.

Two crews tackled yard work and gardening at La Mesa Elementary and Plainview Christian Academy, and another crew of student workers conducted a sweep through the Plainview Cemetery for trash.

Wayland students and the Plainview High junior Navy ROTC participants picked up trash around Plainview High School. Ovens were doing overtime as well as one crew made cookies and bagged them for Meals on Wheels clients and patients of Area Community Hospice. The girls of Alpha Delta Kappa spent their afternoon bowling with and encouraging Plainview’s Special Olympians in their winter sport.

Wayland’s Pioneer Marching Band resumed their traditional post on the workday as hosts and organizers of the Plainview Pioneer Marching Festival held at Greg Sherwood Memorial Bulldog Stadium for area schools. The annual festival provides one final practice for schools before UIL marching competition and judges are able to provide good feedback for band directors and groups attending the event.

A new dimension to the 2009 event was the addition of a Friday night meal organized by the Baptist Student Ministries, focusing on the plight of world hunger and the disparity of food sources worldwide.

Wayland Baptist University professor Estelle Owens (seated at back), student Russell Daniel, and staff members Tammy Coleman and Penny Poole remove weeds and debris from the flower beds at La Mesa Elementary in preparation for laying down protective material and decorative bark. (PHOTOS/Wayland Baptist University)

Students ate meals depending on which “class” they fell into, drawn at random, based on percentages of the world’s population at various income levels. Out of the group of around 50, only 5 were treated to a four-course meal, others received rice and beans, and the majority ate only rice, representing the large number of the world’s population who live in abject poverty.

Following the meal, students helped distribute flyers to neighborhoods surrounding three block parties held Saturday afternoon.  The students were encouraged to prayerwalk the neighborhoods during their time, and they gathered back at WBU for a worship time.

Saturday block parties included partnerships with several local churches to provide a safe, fun time of family entertainment and share the love of God with families around Plainview.

But some were affected pretty deeply themselves.

“The whole time I was cleaning, all I could think about was how even though we didn’t get to work with the girls directly, everything we were doing would impact them, even if they don’t really notice,” said Melissa Wilkinson, who was part of the crew at Compassionate Care.

Drew Marquez, who worked with the Wee Care crew, said he appreciated the chance to help the children of Plainview behind the scenes by helping with the facility.

“It gave me a chance to be near to God,” said Amanda Allen, who worked at Producing Warriors for God with organizer Gloria Turner. “It was a worship experience for me, and it is amazing that I could experience the glory of God by sweeping.”

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