WINGATE — Rhett Brown got his start at Wingate University in the late ’80s as the founder of a student service organization. To celebrate his inauguration as president, the school held a Day of Service on Thursday afternoon that brought out more than 300 volunteers.
Brown was installed as Wingate’s 10th president on Thursday morning, and in the afternoon students, employees and alumni gathered together to pack food bags, build sheds, make blankets and clear trails.
“I think it’s a nice way for people to gather and welcome Dr. Brown, but it also embodies one of the core values of the university — service,” said Mikaela Hadaway, a junior from Dayton, Ohio, who helped make tie blankets that will be given to the Union County Community Shelter.
Wingate officials said they were surprised with the response from students, employees and other volunteers. In LaVerne Banquet Hall, 137 volunteers packed 1,300 backpacks full of food that will go to students in need from Wingate Elementary in Wingate and East Elementary and Walter Bickett Elementary in Monroe. Because of the number of volunteers, it took just one hour to complete the task.
Volunteers could pick from seven service projects: joining the Be The Match bone-marrow registry; clearing a trail for the town of Wingate; making backpacks for Hungry Kids; making blankets for the Union County Community Shelter and Hearts of Monroe; reading to preschoolers and cleaning facility toys and classroom supplies at Wingate Daycare; building sheds for Habitat for Humanity; and making hygiene packs for people in need.
All projects benefited people in Union and Anson counties.