When you think about Homecoming at Penn State, you likely picture a football weekend in October with a College Avenue parade.
But Homecoming is quickly becoming a year-round event, and Saturdays’ annual Day of Service made that clear to the community.
Student volunteers involved with Penn State Homecoming gave back to the community on Saturday, volunteering at 13 different sites in State College. One group went to Lederer Park, doing some much-needed gardening work to clean up the greenery as spring starts to warm up.
“We cut down shrubs that were overgrown throughout the park today,” says Hannah Aboulhosn, a volunteer. “It feels great to give back to the community and help keep Lederer Park clean and beautiful for the people of State College to use.”
The volunteers at Lederer Park, which is located at corner of University Drive and Easterly Parkway, trimmed weeds and removed branches to beautify the park.
“Reaching out to the community is important to homecoming and helps fulfill one of homecomings most important goals, helping the community,” Aboulhosn says.
Volunteers also spent time at the Elmcroft Senior Center, where some played bingo with the home’s elderly residents. Others planted flowers on the Penn State campus, cleaned up the Centre County Library, and put in some physical labor at Shaver’s Creek.
While running the event out of the Business Building, Penn State Homecoming had about 220 volunteers at work, 30 more than last year. It was a sunny afternoon with temperatures in the 60s.
“The weather was perfect,” Homecoming executive director Brandon Rittenhouse says. “Events in the spring, like the Day of Service, help us give back to the community that we are constantly trying to celebrate while ensuring that Homecoming is a year-long celebration of Penn State.”
Rittenhouse adds that the homecoming group is constantly trying to expand its mission outside the iconic football weekend in October. The Day of Service allows the organization to spread Penn State pride while giving back to the community in the process.
The next Homecoming event is the Legacy Celebration on April 22. The organization will celebrate a successful year at Penn State and remind students of the university’s accomplishment over the past year. The 2015 Homecoming Parade’s honorary grand marshal will be announced at the HUB-Robeson Center celebration.
“We are constantly trying to find ways to expand our mission throughout the year because, for us, homecoming isn’t just a week in October,” Rittenhouse says.
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