OSU students commit to community service

Columbus will be a cleaner, smarter, more beautiful city on Tuesday (9/24) afternoon, following Ohio State University’s seventh annual Community Commitment day. An estimated 1,600 Ohio State University students – mostly freshmen – will roll up their sleeves as they begin their Ohio State education by volunteering for Community Commitment, the nation’s largest single-day community service project.

The volunteers will travel to 80 sites around Columbus to perform projects including landscaping, tutoring school-age children, cleaning and painting, general office work, and friendly visiting. After their service experience, participants return to campus to enjoy a free lunch and a service fair, where they can make connections with local service agencies for continued service opportunities.

Ohio State does not require students to perform community service but last year nearly half of Ohio State’s students volunteered in the community in some capacity.

Over the last six years, Community Commitment participants have volunteered nearly 20,000 hours of service. Chris Wittkop of the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department says the volunteerism adds up.

“The projects Ohio State students do during Community Commitment saves us three months worth of work,” Wittkop said.

Chris Hempfling and Christine Pegg are student co-chairs for Community Commitment.

WHAT:Community Commitment, the nation’s largest single-day community service project

WHEN: Beginning at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 24.

WHERE: Students travel from the Ohio Union to 80 sites around Columbus.

WHY: Community Service is part of student life at Ohio State.