Despite the overcast skies and drizzly weather, more than 300 students participated in MerServe's annual Be a Good NeighBear event over the weekend.
This year's NeighBear event included over 15 community partners and featured opportunities for students such as tutoring, trash pickup, assisting animal shelters and more.
“I was almost expecting to have potentially more no-shows due to weather,” said Assistant Director of Service and Civic Engagement Margaret Rooyakkers. “Our no-show and cancellation rate is very low for this year and I'm very excited about that.”
Many of the community partner project sites included outdoor service, and according to Rooyakkers, some partners had to postpone their service events due to the poor weather. However, she said there were more than enough service opportunities available.
“This turnout was fantastic. We had probably around 469 students register and almost all our spots were filled,” said Rooyakkers. “It was a good problem to have come Thursday when we started worrying about the weather,” she said.
Students had the opportunity to either volunteer in the morning or the afternoon depending on their preferred shift time. Following the event, students received a free T-shirt to thank them for their time and service in the community.
“I've done it all four years of college,” said Savannah French ‘25, executive director of MerServe. “So it's kind of cool to see it be more involved every year and also seeing more of how it all comes together,” she said.
MerServe organizes Be A Good NeighBear every year, and though they have consistent community partners, they always welcome new additions to the event.
According to Kashif Momin ‘25, MerServe’s director of operations, the organization is the largest student-led organization on campus with a focus on bridging Mercer and the Macon community.
“For those who are disappointed that they may have missed NeighBear, they can always check BearPulse. We offer volunteer opportunities throughout the semester and throughout the year,” Rooyakers said.
Megan Jackson ‘25 is a Journalism student with a goal of going into editing, news writing, or audio production. She also works at Mercer’s Undergraduate Admissions office, and enjoys spending time with her sorority sisters.
