Leah Townsend is in her second year at Samford University, and when she is not working on her studies as a math major, there is a good chance you will find her singing in the Gospel Choir. Involved across campus, Townsend was this year’s co-director of Samford Gives Back, the university’s flagship community engagement event.
The Huntsville, Alabama, native combined service with her love of music through one of the 57 partner organizations that participated in the service day. Members of the Samford Gospel Choir visited First Light Women’s Shelter, where they performed a concert and spent time with residents. Townsend said the positive feedback excited her deeply.
“It was great to see this event continue to cultivate a culture of philanthropy that exists all over Samford, whether through Greek life, other student organizations or in individuals,” Townsend said.
To recruit students and coordinate the service sites with the organizations, Townsend worked alongside co-executive director Mack McKim, a junior health sciences major. The Samford Gives Back leadership team rallied 1,038 participants to serve throughout Birmingham.
On March 28, students gathered at Seibert Hall for a prayer rally to remind them of the purpose of giving back: showing the same servant-hearted love that Christ displayed in His life, death and resurrection. They were dispersed to ministries across the city, including Jimmy Hale Mission, Awaken Ministries and Pillar of Hope Christian Church. Alex Bodner, program administrator at Pathways, Inc., became deeply moved by students working hard at any task they were given.
“This partnership means so much to us, and I look forward to working together again in the future,” Bodner said. “With so many hands involved, they accomplished so much, and I was truly impressed. Just a truly great group of students!”
Debby Haralson, Samford’s director of community engagement, said the service day was made possible by interdepartmental collaboration across the university. She thanked Campus Recreation, Student Leadership and Involvement, the Office of Community Enrichment and the Staff Advisory Council for providing facilities, serving the participants and recruiting students, faculty and staff. In addition to the student service day, a canned food and clothing drive—with faculty and staff sorting donations—took place March 27.
“We were humbled and so appreciative of the collaborative efforts across departments this year,” Haralson said. “With their support, this didn’t just feel like a Community Engagement event; it felt like a Samford University event.”
