Union University volunteers fan out for annual day of service

JACKSON, Tenn. (WBBJ) - Hundreds of Union University students, faculty and staff fanned out across Jackson and West Tennessee Tuesday for the school’s 24th “Campus and Community: A Day of Remembrance and Service.”

Most classes were canceled so volunteers could work on more than 30 projects, from local schools and churches to nursing homes and nonprofits.

Teams helped with beautification at Cypress Grove Nature Park, stocked shelves and served meals at Regional Inter‑Faith Association and organized donations for the Jackson-Madison County Foster Association.

“Yes, we are trying to clean up Cypress Grove. This is basically one of the lowest points in Jackson so a lot of the trash that gets thrown out car windows on the highway or anything like that. It ends up here eventually and so we’re just trying to collect it all and make a place that’s made to be nature nature,” said Colter Harris, a Union University biology student.

Tuesday started with a morning rally at the campus Tornado Memorial, a way for Union to say “thank you” for the community’s help after tornadoes in 2002, 2003 and 2008.