October 1, 2021

Inauguration Festivities Include Day of Service

Reflecting her mission to strengthen the College’s connections with its Easton neighbors, President Nicole Farmer Hurd integrated community service activities into Inauguration Week. Lafayette staff members volunteered their time September 30 at five different Easton-based organizations, thanks to the work of the Landis Center for Community Engagement.

“I think the most important thing about community is doing it together,” Hurd said. “When I think about how we push forward, it’s really about ‘What are the needs? How can we do this in ways that lift everybody up? And how do we make sure that we show up? I’m really excited to show up every day for the community and city we’re now really proud to be a part of.” 

WFMZ-TV covered the event and spoke to Hurd in Easton about her commitment to the community. Watch the news segment.

Miranda Wilcha ‘16, community gardens and compost coordinator for the Greater Easton Development Partnership oversaw work at the Lower Hackett Community Garden. “Lafayette’s community service has been valuable to keeping our gardens clean and tidy so that we can offer space for people to grow their own food and so we can donate produce we grow on site,” Wilcha said. “Lafayette’s volunteers roll up their sleeves to do a lot of tasks that weigh down our sites, helping us grow to be more inclusive and productive gardens.

Skillman Library staff members Terese Heidenwolf, director of research and instructional services, and Ben Jahre, head of electronic resources, were among the employees who participated. They spent the morning pulling weeds and collecting trash along a busy section of Northampton Street between 13th and 15th streets in Easton’s West Ward. An opportunity to support the community motivated both to participate in the Day of Caring. “Volunteering our time is just a good way to give something back,” Jahre said.

 

Volunteers, including President Nicole Farmer Hurd and Bill Hurd, prepare to volunteer at Riverside Park.
Bill Hurd and President Nicole Hurd tend to weeds at Riverside Park.
Volunteers, including President Nicole Farmer Hurd, stand at Riverside Park.
President Nicole Farmer Hurd sits in mulch of Riverside Park
President Nicole Farmer Hurd sits in mulch of Riverside Park
A staff volunteers in front of the Larry Holmes statue.
A staff volunteer pulls weeds.
A staff volunteer tend to a garden.
A staff volunteer dumps a wheelbarrow of dirt.
A staff volunteer pulls weeds.
Sherryta Freeman pulls weeds.
Sherryta Freeman pulls weeds.
A staff volunteer pulls weeds.
Stephen Wilson and golden retriever Rusty Buckets prepare to volunteer at Riverside Park.
Staff volunteers talk in a group at Community Gardens.
Staff volunteers tend to a garden.
Staff volunteers tend to a garden.
Staff volunteers tend to a garden.
Staff volunteers tend to a garden.
Staff volunteers smile, surrounded by a garden.
A staff volunteer tends to a garden.
Two staff volunteers tend to a garden.
A staff volunteer clears branches from a field.
A staff volunteer carries weeds in a wheelbarrow.
Staff volunteers smile while holding garden rakes and hoes..
Two staff volunteers tend to a garden.
Two staff volunteers carry trash bags.
Staff members reach into a black trash cans
Staff volunteers carry a trash can.
President Nicole Hurd smiles
Bill Hurd and President Nicole Hurd pull weeds at Riverside Park.
Categorized in: Community, Connected Communities, Faculty and Staff, Featured News, Inauguration, Landis Center, News and Features, Photo gallery