More than 300 Northwest Christian University students, faculty and staff took time from their classes and campus duties to Embrace the Community, an annual event that brings the campus together to support the work of local nonprofits and churches in the area.
“ETC’s aim is to ignite passion in our campus community to serve others throughout the year,” said Jennifer Little, M.A., Resident Director and Coordinator for Campus Ministry. “ETC feeds into our Community Fair that brings 20 nonprofit organizations to campus to give students an opportunity to sign up to serve others in our community.”
After Chapel, ETC participants were divided into teams and then were assigned to work with one of 20 non-profit organizations or churches, including: Camp Harlow, Eugene Mission, Greenhill Human Society, South Hills Rehabilitation, Hope Ranch Ministries, Youth for Christ, Love INC, Catholic Community Services, Looking Glass, Child Evangelism Fellowship, Mt. Pisgah, Hosea Youth Services, Springfield Youth Farm, First Baptist Church, CASA of Lane County, Eugene Park Stewards, Grassroots Garden, St. Vincent de Paul, Womenspace, Inc. The teams did everything from harvesting vegetables to painting to creating a memorial for those who have lost their lives due to domestic violence.
“ETC teaches us that people need help and that as students we can spend time being a small part of someone’s solution,” said Emily Sutherland ’17, a psychology major from Medford, Ore. “ETC is an opportunity to give back to the community and contribute to the culture of Wisdom Faith Service that is woven into the fabric of an NCU education. It also just feels good to help others.”