Rain doesn’t dampen spirits on Wayland Degree of Difference Day

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PLAINVIEW—Rain put a damper on a few planned service projects, but it didn’t dampen the spirits of the Wayland Baptist University students and staff who turned out for the third annual Degree of Difference Day.

The one-day event provides opportunities for students and employees to give back to the community by doing service projects for nonprofit organizations, churches and other entities.

Wayland Baptist University junior Tara Newland and senior Missy Pawelek cheer on Special Olympics athletes during bowling practice at Plainview Bowling Center as part of Degree of Difference Day at Wayland.(Photo by Jonathan Petty/Wayland)

Teams spent their Saturday morning painting, cleaning and organizing, and cheering on Special Olympics athletes. The Pioneer Marching Band spent their afternoon and evening running the Plainview Pioneer Marching Festival at Bulldog Stadium for area schools, an annual event they run as a service to band programs as schools prepare for UIL competition.

Habitat for Humanity 

A Habitat for Humanity home begun on Wednesday was due for completion on Saturday with help from Degree of Difference teams, but when that project was completed early Friday night, teams had to shuffle to other locations.

While the rain cut short a few painting projects on Saturday and some cleanup work in a cemetery and other outdoor locations, some teams kept right on working. One group moved bricks and cleaned a storage shed on the Wayland campus. Despite the pouring rain, the team bonded and decided to work to completion.

A team of Wayland Baptist University students and Charles Starnes, assistant professor of management and economics, worked together to put a fresh coat of paint on the red kettles used by the Salvation Army in their annual holiday fund drive. Pictured are (from left) Lauren Hough, Bethany Netherton and Joshua Young. (Photo by Jonathan Petty/Wayland)

“We had a really great group that was fun and enthusiastic and willing to work regardless of the rain,” said Stephanie Wright, a sophomore who served on the project.

“We signed up to do the job, and we followed through,” junior Khrystyne Eckerd added. “We learned about finishing the job even through natural circumstances such as the pouring rain, and we learned about communicating with everyone in order to get the job done correctly and efficiently.”


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Another team cut their painting efforts short when the rain began to fall harder, but they still accomplished something and felt good about their work.

“It made me feel good to help our town that gives so much” to Wayland, Melissa Knight said.

“Our community really needs the help and by doing small things, we make a big impact on the community and show them we care,” junior Rosemary Ribera added.

Thrift store cleanup 

Wayland Baptist University senior Michelle Sanders (left) of Watauga, and junior Keliesha Ross of Arlington join forces on Wayland’s Degree of Difference Day to stain planters for the Plainview Main Street Association as part of a downtown beautification effort. (Photo by Jonathan Petty/Wayland)

Two thrift stores benefitted from Wayland help—the Crisis Center of the Plains’ Broadway Treasures store and the Salvation Army Thrift Store. Teams worked in the shops—cleaning, organizing and sorting donated goods.

“I enjoyed being in a group of Wayland students I don’t ordinarily spend time with and be able to serve alongside them,” said Mary Beth Arnold, a junior who worked at the Salvation Army store. “It was really neat to work together for the common purpose of helping other people, building Wayland’s reputation and, most importantly, glorifying God.”

April Morgan, a senior who worked at Broadway Treasures, said the experience left her with a new perspective.

“This was a very humbling experience. I definitely feel very fortunate and blessed,” she said. “Working with the body of Christ is fun and even though the work is not always clean, it’s great to see everyone serving unselfishly.”

“It is an awesome feeling helping others,” added Tricia Garza, certification officer in the School of Education and a team member at the Salvation Army. “It really makes a difference to see how fortunate we are to have what we have and to be able to help the less fortunate. God is so good to us, and sometimes we forget how God has impacted our lives. Coming to help today was hard work but worth it.”

One group served as cheerleaders for Special Olympics athletes as they practiced their bowling skills at the Plainview Bowling Center.

“This taught me to laugh and have joy,” junior Heather Shiloh said. “Even if you don’t do well, you can still laugh and have a good time. I see such amazing life in these guys I bowled with. I loved it.”

 


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