Bucs prepare for Homecoming Week

Homecoming week is right around the corner at CSU and with it comes a plethora of opportunities for Buccaneers to engage in events and activities all across campus. 

For the first time ever, the CSU community can participate in three unique service opportunities as a part of the new homecoming event, which invites students, faculty, and staff and to give back to those in the Charleston area who need that giving most. This event will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday Oct. 18 around the Reflection Pond. 

According to Associate Dean of Student Engagement and Chief Diversity Officer Tim Grant, this event is all about community partnership and putting “CSU out there as the mission and servant leaders that we are.” 

CSU’s Homecoming 2022 theme is Sail Home. As such, CSU will host three organizations involved in giving and serving the needs surrounding the home, such as nonperishable food items, bedding and other items that can and will help individuals and families during times of great need. 

The first organization CSU is partnering with is the Lowcountry Food Bank. This is a nonprofit dedicated to fighting hunger in 10 different counties along the coast of South Carolina. Based in Charleston County, LCFB has been fighting food insecurity within these communities since 1983. They have impacted hundreds of thousands of lives in the Lowcountry. Those interested in providing contributions to LCFB may do so by providing nonperishable food items or through cash donations.

CSU will also assist Star Gospel Mission for the service project. According to their website, SGM provides “housing options for men facing homelessness and strives to prove that a man’s worst moment is not the sum of his life.” They “provide transitional housing options, counseling and other services,” with the goal of helping these men back onto their feet so that they may participate as members of the community once more. Beyond this, they also have emergency assistance available to families and individuals who are “struggling to survive in our community.” This organization accepts cash donations and is always accepting donations of, “frozen meats, dry goods, and coffee supplies such as ground or whole bean coffee, cups, creamers, and sugar packets.” They are also currently in need of certain cleaning supplies, clothing items and personal hygiene items. They have an up-to-date list of current needs online as an Amazon Wish List. Those who wish to donate to this organization are encouraged to view the wish list for ideas. 

The final organization CSU is partnering with for this service event is Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building and providing beds to families with children who do not have them and cannot afford them. While based out of Idaho, they are an ever-growing organization with a national presence and have chapters in several states, with four chapters in South Carolina alone. Individuals within the CSU community will have the opportunity to donate sheets, bedding, pillows and cash. Interested individuals should also be on the lookout for more information for the follow up to this partnership, when the beds will be prayed over and blessed so that the children who receive them may be constantly prayed over.

Student organizations are encouraged to participate in donations, as the club that puts forward the most donations will be recognized at the homecoming parade with a Community Servant award. “This is a great time to build community and lasting friendship,” said Grant. “This is the beginning of something new. As we celebrate HoCo, let’s be a blessing to someone else.” 

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Marissa Thompson is a senior communication studies major at Charleston Southern University and is an intern in the Marketing & Communication office.

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