College serves the community during annual event

Bermuda College faculty, students, staff, and friends of the College (representatives of the Honorary Fellows and the Seniors Learning Centre) spread out over the Island for its annual Community Service Week last week. Held in conjunction with Bermuda College Spirit Week, nearly 70 volunteers spent a total of 200 hours assisting various charitable organisations. Co-ordinator of Community Service Week, Emma Williams said outreach to the community is a “natural fit” with the community college philosophy.

Tasks undertaken ranged from sorting clothes to sorting files, cooking food and washing pots, cleaning utility closets, kitchen cupboards and windows, and also beautifying parts of the College campus ... all over a five-day period.

Mrs. Williams, who normally greets visitors as the Information Desk Receptionist, worked at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute along with senior English lecturer, Dr. Sajni Tolaram and Institutional Research Coordinator, Mrs. Pamela Maxwell Clarke, filing, writing articles for the newsletter and creating games for the children. At Teen Services, volunteers planted seedlings, painted interior hallways and reorganised books and toys; while at WindReach they weeded the grounds and cleared out trees.

"People's willingness to help made my job (co-ordinating) a pleasure," Ms. Williams said. Now in the fifth year of the initiative, the number of organisations assisted has grown, with some anticipating the calendar event and calling ahead of time.

Thirteen charities and organisations benefited this year. They included Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute; Lefroy House; Lorraine Rest Home; the Matilda Smith Williams Seniors Residence; Meals on Wheels; the Packwood Home; the Salvation Army Thrift Shop; S.T.A.R.; Sunset View Rest Home; the Sunshine League; Teen Services; Westmeath Residential/Nursing Care Home; and WindReach Bermuda.