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ATLANTA—More than 200 Georgia State University alumni and volunteers planted, packed, pruned and provided support for community organizations at GSU Cares events throughout Atlanta on April 7-8.
A record number of volunteers registered to assist with GSU Cares service projects this year and, though inclement weather prevented work at several planned partner sites, more than 200 gave their time and effort helping a range of organizations. This was the 10th annual GSU Cares day of service, which is one of the Georgia State Alumni Association’s signature annual events and is held in partnership with the university’s Office of Civic Engagement.
“As Atlanta’s university, Georgia State is proud to partner with and support the efforts of organizations bettering the communities where our students, faculty, staff and thousands of our alumni and friends live, work, create, build and thrive,” said Georgia State University President Dr. M. Brian Blake. “It was an honor to work alongside dedicated Panthers giving their time to make a positive difference in the lives of people here at home and around the world. I thank Georgia State’s Alumni Association and Office of Civic Engagement, and the hundreds of individuals who volunteered, for all their efforts that made this year’s GSU Cares a success.”
GSU Cares offered volunteers of all ages a variety of service opportunities with several partner organizations across the Metro Atlanta area. On Friday, April 7 Georgia State volunteers packed 3,000 meals for elders and those with chronic illness with Project Open Hand, helped prepare Piedmont Park for the upcoming Dogwood Festival and assisted SafeHouse Outreach in their work with those experiencing homelessness.
On the second day of GSU Cares events, volunteers packed 280 boxes of books for students in partnership with Books for Africa, prepared 6,000 pounds of medical supplies with MedShare to help more than 4,000 patients in need overseas in Turkey, Ukraine, Syria and other countries and worked in the greenhouse at the university’s Decatur Campus.
Over the two-day GSU Cares event, more than 200 volunteers gave nearly 500 total hours to help partner organizations and the people they serve.
“GSU Cares events have been wonderful to host, and we are always excited to be invited back year after year,” said Loren Lownes, volunteer manager for the Piedmont Park Conservancy. “Since 2014, we have had 245 GSU Cares volunteers spend more than 700 hours to help keep Piedmont Park healthy and beautiful for both Atlanta natives and visitors alike to enjoy. We are grateful for all of the volunteers that joined us this year and in years past, and look forward to more GSU Cares events in the years to come.”
Learn more about GSU Cares at alumni.gsu.edu/gsucares. Explore how the Georgia State University Alumni Association serves the university’s alumni and keeps them connected and invested with Georgia State at alumni.gsu.edu.