Community Service

Volunteerism is an important component of Centre’s commitment to prepare students for lives of learning, leadership, and service. C.A.R.E., Centre Action Reaches Everyone, is Centre’s umbrella community service organization. The student group serves as a liaison between Centre’s campus and the Danville/Boyle County area by providing an extensive variety of service opportunities for Centre students, faculty, and staff. Members of C.A.R.E. are responsible for coordinating a number of substantial projects including the fall and spring blood drives, C.A.R.E Trick or Treat, Project Linus, the Spring Egg Hunt, and Hunger and Homelessness Week.

In addition to organizing group projects for the campus community, members of C.A.R.E. and the Community Service and Philanthropy organization STAND are responsible for recruiting and coordinating the volunteer efforts of individual students at the numerous agencies in the Danville/Boyle County area. Just a few of the places where Centre students serve are the Humane Society, New Hope food pantry, Centre College ESL After School Program, Ephraim McDowell Hospital, the Salvation Army, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Wilderness Trace Child Development Center and Blue Bird Market, the Rape Crisis Center, Grace Cafe, and several after school programs.

While C.A.R.E. is the umbrella student service organization, a number of other student organizations recognize the value of service as well. Members of campus groups often participate in projects that address issues of importance to the individual organizations. Additionally, several academic departments place an emphasis on service by making service learning an integral part of their courses. Students, faculty, and staff also frequently choose to serve on an individual level. Whatever the desired level of involvement and whatever an individual’s passion, an opportunity to serve exists. Students, faculty, and staff need only visit the Director of Community Service and the Bonner Program in the Student Life Office to inquire about opportunities.