An organization that creates adaptive tricycles for children with disabilities. A nonprofit that provides eye tests at local schools and daycares to address potential vision problems. A garden that helps community members explore the importance of agriculture, arts and sciences.
These are a few examples of the many places where Samford University’s students, faculty and staff dedicate service through the Office of Community Engagement.
“Deeply embedded in our university’s mission is civic responsibility. The people of Samford live this out daily by practicing nothing less than Christ-like servant leadership,” said Debby Haralson, director of community engagement.
Throughout each school year, Samford makes a positive impact in Homewood and across the Birmingham area. Students join the Community Cadres program, which is organized and directed by the Office of Community Engagement and overseen by volunteer coordinators at each partner organization, who help guide them through eight weeks of service and reflection. The 2024-25 academic year saw 2,694 community cadres service hours delivered across 24 organizations. These include impactful groups such as the Homewood City Schools Community Garden, the Ministry Center at Green Springs and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. A junior who volunteered at Galleria Woods Senior Living smiles when she looks back on her time serving. The experience taught her the importance of patience, and she loved getting to know residents that she may not have met otherwise.
“Everyone who gives their time to serve is making a difference, no matter how small,” the student said. “You may not see the fruit of your labor right away, but good things take time.”
JOIN: Get involved with a Community Cadre.
The drive to recruit over 300 students to serve throughout the year is something Haralson said is a part of Samford culture. When students arrive as freshmen, she hopes they will see the university is dedicated to loving our neighbors and giving back.
“Our student volunteers were a wonderful addition to our adult program this semester,” said Gabby Thabes, donor and volunteer relations manager at United Ability, a community cadre partner. “They added a lot, socially, to enrich our day program, and we are so thankful for their openness and willingness to serve. It was very apparent that they were volunteering with us because they have a genuine interest in bettering our shared community and learning about others who may be different from themselves.”
The impact of Samford’s service extends beyond the local level. In September 2024, hundreds of students, parents and employees packed 32,500 meals for a food distribution organization in Ecuador. This support helped the organization begin to formalize its efforts, and in March 2025, 22 students traveled to Ecuador to share testimonies, assist in building a church, and distribute meals.
Community Engagement provides Samford students and employees with immense opportunities for growth while fostering deeper relationships with organizations that do important work within our communities. The university also recognizes individuals outside of Samford who exemplify kindness and dedication through their civic life through the annual Samford Medallion Awards. The awards are a direct reflection of the university’s strategic plan, Fidelitas. Through the community celebration pillar, Samford aims to engage the Homewood, Birmingham and broader communities around the university in partnership, service and cultural understanding.
Samford’s dedication to the community is on display through the annual flagship community engagement event of the year: Samford Gives Back. This year’s event saw over 4,000 hours served in a single day across 51 organizations in the area. Partners included Lakeshore Foundation, Brookdale University Park, Christian Service Mission and Greater Birmingham Humane Society.
Whether through countless hours of volunteer work or other projects—such as engaging community leaders to inform best practices for helping students experiencing grief or loss—Samford is an active member of the Birmingham community and committed to seeing the region flourish.
“I have been partnering with Samford University for over 10 years and throughout the partnership, each group of volunteers has been a tremendous help,” said Julie Gentry from Homewood City Schools Community Garden. “Throughout the years, students have helped me maintain the community garden by weeding the beds, pruning fruit trees and organizing the storage shed, helping increase my social media presence—which has increased my following by 35%—researching grant opportunities when we couldn’t work in the garden due to inclement weather; and creating a pitch deck to be used during townhall meetings and for fundraising opportunities to help build the outdoor classroom initiative that is currently under construction. The success of the community garden wouldn’t be possible without the help of Samford students. I am grateful for this partnership and look forward to continuing working with Samford and its students.”
