Union University junior Mackenzie Cooper picks up trash and leaves at the Jackson’s Cypress Grove Nature Park during the annual Campus and Community Day on Oct. 23.
JACKSON — As a native of Jackson, Tennessee, Union University junior Mackenzie Cooper loves her community. She took advantage of the university’s annual Campus and Community: A Day of Remembrance and Service on Oct. 23 to help pick up trash at the city’s Cypress Grove Nature Park as a way of showing her appreciation.
“Jackson gives a lot to Union University, and it’s very important to give back,” Cooper said. “As Christians, we are called to give back to our community and to support others. Picking up trash is a great way to be part of the community and help serve other people.”
Cooper, a zoology major, was one of about 800 people from Union who participated in the 22nd annual day set aside for community service.
Each year, Union cancels classes for the day so faculty, staff and students can serve, in gratitude for the ways the Jackson community helped Union after tornadoes hit campus in 2002, 2003 and 2008.
This year, the initiative included 41 projects at local schools, churches and non-profit organizations.
At Cypress Grove, a 265-acre nature preserve with an elevated wetland boardwalk, Cooper and about 20 others picked up trash to beautify the park and help keep the ecosystem clean.
Micah Fern, associate professor of biology, said the Cypress Grove wetland is significant to the community, essentially functioning as the “kidneys” of the ecosystem to help purify and remove toxins from water.
“We’ve learned that when we get rid of wetlands, we have to then build the infrastructure and the different places to treat the water, and here it does it naturally,” Fern said. “So, this is a very valuable area.”
Removing trash helps make the Cypress Grove experience more enjoyable for visitors, Fern said, and it helps protect the animals that live there.
At Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson, members of the Union women’s volleyball team helped assemble boxes for Operation Christmas Child.
The ministry of Samaritan’s Purse sends gift-filled shoeboxes to children in need around the world, along with the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Ray Robbins, who oversees the project for Englewood, said the investment by the volleyball team saved the church hours of work.
“Every one of the players contributed tremendously to the gospel and to helping us,” he said.
Union’s Chi Omega sorority participated in Campus and Community Day by writing letters of gratitude to families and organizations that have partnered with the Scarlet Rope Project, a local Christian ministry that provides a safe place for healing and restoration to survivors of human trafficking.
“Although our fraternity isn’t a nationally Christian association, at Union we really take hold of those Christian values,” said Abby Farmer, Chi Omega’s philanthropy and community service director. “This is just a great way to share (Christ’s) light and be the body of Christ. We’re really grateful to partner with Union in that.”
Leia Meadows, a Union sophomore, led a team of students working with Healthy Professionals Reaching Out to assemble “Blessings Bags” for homeless women in Jackson.
“We take completely donated purses and money, and we fill these purses with things like deodorant, feminine products, soap, shampoo and Bibles,” Meadows said. “Our aim is to meet the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual needs of these ladies.” B&R
