Danville is a great place for students to get involved and to give back to the community. Every community is better when it has people ready and willing to serve. Danville has many opportunities all over to serve and get involved. Not only is getting involved helping the community, but it is also a great way of giving back to yourself.

“Serving in the community makes me feel important,”

Mckenzie, Sophomore on the football team

and active member in the community, said.

Danville offers many places to get involved. Some of the off-campus locations that are always excited to open their arms to Averett students are God’s Pit Crew, House of Hope, God’s StoreHouse, Riverwalk Clean Ups, local churches, and the Humane Society if you love working with animals! All of these places frequently host Averett students for community service activities.

 Sometimes, community service can open the door for your career. Recent Alumni Jonathan Bishop began serving the Danville community through one of the churches here in town. He was able to serve by helping lead the youth group at West Main Baptist Church. This led to him being able to find his passion for ministry and has since graduated Averett and is now in seminary school to become a pastor. 

“These youth had a tremendous impact on me as a man, leader, and as a follower of Christ in ways that I never expected,” Bishop said. “They helped me restore my faith through hard times, build the courage to learn how to lead, and taught me what it truly means to be a welcoming member of a church family.”

Bishop is a great example of what can happen just from giving back to your community. It helped him find his calling, grow in his career, and gain valuable experiences and life lessons that he will carry with him for the rest of his life. Bishop shared words of wisdom and encouragement directed to all Averett students who either have considered getting involved in community service, or even if they have never thought about it yet.

“Take the chance. There are many, many community opportunities to give back to. The community that you are living in for the next four years needs your help. It is your home away from home, so the question then becomes how do you feel about your home and what can you offer to improve your home?”

Community service does not have to be outside of campus. There are plenty of opportunities around campus for students to get involved and give back to their own student body. There is always the need for student volunteers when it comes to athletic events, theater, and the myriad of events that Averett frequently hosts. 

Averett’s SAAC program is a phenomenal way for student athletes to get involved in the community. Be sure to check out the Averett SAAC Instagram page @averett.saac to get frequent updates on events and service opportunities.

“This community does so much for us, and it feels great to be able to give back to the community that supports us, our dreams, and our goals,” SAAC Community Service Liaison Matthew Clark said.