Students learn to serve the community at Benedict College's PLUS Day

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - Benedict College held its 21st annual PLUS Day on Saturday.

The service event is held every year as a way to give back to the community. Service-learning is a graduation requirement at Benedict College. PLUS Day features a Kid's Fun Day with games, activities and giveaways. Inside of the gymnasium, students organized donation items to give back to the homeless, as well as victims of October's flood.
 
"Today is exciting because this is completely optional. This is not at all related to any course work. These are simply just students that want to come out and be a part of service to their community, so it means a lot to see the group here. And again, this is just a small representation of the larger group that's out and about in locations in our area," said Tondaleya Jackson, the director of Benedict College's Service-Learning and Leadership Development Program.

Over in the Swinton Center on Benedict's campus, students packaged 10,000 meals for the nonprofit Feeding Children Everywhere that were distributed to two food pantries in the Midlands. Over 4,000 of those meals were delivered to Oliver Gospel Mission.

"It's just incredible to see college students come together and pack…10,000 meals is such a huge feat. That's a large amount of people. And to have college students gather on a random Saturday and pack 10,000 meals is just so cool. If we can have college students do it then it can just show that anybody can do it, anybody can give up an hour of their time and just make a huge impact where they live," said Maria Fernandez, an event leader for Feeding Children Everywhere.
 
An art exhibit featuring artifacts and black history displays was also held in the gym. All events were free and open to the public.

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