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Macon A Difference Day 2010
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On Saturday, April 17, 2010, Randolph-Macon College held its annual Macon A Difference Day, a program that helps beautify locations on campus, in the Town of Ashland and throughout Hanover County. About 200 students, faculty and staff volunteered close to 600 hours (collectively) for this event which is held in conjunction with Earth Day. For the second year, a ceremonial tree planting on campus kicked off the day, led by R-MC President Robert R. Lindgren and Ashland Mayor Faye Pritchard.
“I am very impressed with the turnout of Randolph-Macon students,” says Ashley Glover’11, Executive Director for Macon A Difference Day. “It took a lot of collaboration from various offices and entities and the committee truly appreciated all of the hard work. I am excited for next year and hope to get even more students involved in the planning.”
Macon A Difference Day is a campus-wide initiative, created in 2006, to give back to the local community, make positive connections within the Town of Ashland and pay homage to Earth Day. This year’s events included an art recycling contest, an Origami Peace Crane Project, planting trees at Fort A.P. Hill and the following:
- landscaping at DeJarnette Park and with the Ashland Garden Club at Route 1 and College Avenue
- hosting activities for children at the Hanover little league opening day
- hosting a rain barrel building demonstration (barrels were then donated to the Town of Ashland)
- cleaning up two sections of the Mechumps Creek area
- replacing storm inlet markers in various neighborhoods around Ashland
- helping to build homes in Ashland with Habitat for Humanity
- cleaning up trash and debris at Ashland Parks
- volunteering with the Hanover Habitat Affiliate Poker Run
- landscaping at Henry Clay Elementary School
- assisting at Hanover Academy School
- working with St. Ann’s Church to do yard work and paint homes
- picking up trash and debris along part of the 1-95 Interchange
- cleaning up along the Hanover Trolley Line
- landscaping and housework at the Sunrise House in Ashland
- working with Ashland Christian Church on a playground and yard work
- coordinating and cleaning up a highway adopt a spot
- landscaping at Randolph-Macon College
R-MC Students Supporting the Greater Community
Collectively, R-MC students have already amassed nearly 7,000 volunteer hours this year. Nearly 50 students spent an alternative Spring Break in Florida for a combined 950 hours with Habitat for Humanity and 130 hours for a Haiti Relief project. Students in R –MC’s Greek organizations contributed more than 4,500 hours of collective service to the community, collected 550 pounds of canned food, donated 60 inches of hair for Locks of Love, 21 toys for Toys for Tots and more than $7,500 to various organizations. In addition, more than $6,000 was raised on campus and given to the Red Cross & Partners in Health for Haiti Earthquake Relief.
“Randolph-Macon prides itself on being a caring and compassionate community,” says R-MC President Robert R. Lindgren. “We are seeing a 29 percent increase in our student volunteer rate over last year. I am very proud that our students are perpetuating the R-MC tradition of service to others. “
Media interested in more information about Macon a Difference Day, R-MC’s environmental initiatives or volunteer efforts should contact Pam Harris Cox at 752-3712, pamelacox@rmc.edu or Anne Marie Lauranzon at 804-752-7317, alauranz@rmc.edu.