MerServe gives students a way to step up and serve their community

A new student-run organization formed this summer with the intention of giving students an opportunity to help their community.

“We’re basically the Quadworks of service,” said Hannah Vann, the coordinator of community engagement for the Center of Community Engagement.

MerServe is an organization out of the Center for Community Engagement that focuses on student volunteerism in the community of Macon, Vann said.

“The goal of MerServe is to provide a place for students who are really involved and interested in service leadership development to come and build upon that,” Vann said.

MerServe has a student service leadership board of 12 members who are in control of service projects, such as Service Saturdays, Be a Good NeighBEAR, Spring Break for Service and Lights on After School.

“MerServe has created a one stop shop for several different types of service projects that can accommodate the passions of many students,” Brent Lunsford, the executive director of MerServe, said in an email.

More than 350 people signed up for the new organization’s email list at Bear Fair, said Emily Hatchett, the director of development for MerServe.

“Hopefully a lot of those people actually get really involved and see what all there is to do service-wise in Macon,” Hatchett said.

MerServe will be hosting Water Wars Aug. 27 from 5-7 p.m. as its first volunteer event, Vann said.

She said students can, in exchange  for donating one can of food to the local food bank, receive three water balloons to battle their friends. The teams, each consisting of five players will have a massive water balloon fight on Cruz Plaza.

“Because we have so many Mercer students who are passionate about getting involved, now they have a place to do that,” Vann said.

To get involved, students can sign up to participate on a committee or sign up to serve as a site leader, who makes sure everyone is safe during an event, Vann said.

“We are really excited about this year since it’s our first year as a board. We’re just looking for any new service opportunities,” Hatchett said.