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Thirty-eight students and four staff from the ¹ú²ú¶ÌÊÓƵ (USF) Judy Genshaft Honors College rallied in support of Honors Community Service Day, on Friday, March 22. The aim of the Honors Community Service Day was to provide students with an opportunity to engage with the Tampa Bay community and make a positive impact by volunteering at one of four available organizations. 
 
Students had the chance to volunteer with the , , , and Volunteer hours were scheduled throughout the day, starting from 9 a.m. and concluding at 4:30 p.m., depending on the organization with which each student was involved.

Tampa Bay HumanE Society

Students who volunteered with Humane Society of Tampa Bay enjoyed spending time outdoors in the sunshine with some wonderful furry companions. In addition to walking the adoptable dogs from the shelter, students had the opportunity to engage in playtime with the dogs to help them expend their energy. 

Keeping Tampa Bay Beautiful 

Students who took part in the Keeping Tampa Bay Beautiful litter cleanup at Lettuce Lake Park diligently walked around the park to collect stray trash, rolling up their sleeves to assist the Native Plant Society. Two representatives from the society provided valuable insights to students about the park's native flora, and students pitched in by working on the garden near the welcome center. 

Hillsborough Habitat for Humanity 

From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Habitat for Humanity, students assisted the organization in relocating items to their new location. Their tasks included assembling wire racks for storing supplies and organizing resources such as bed sheets and paint. 

Feeding Tampa Bay 

Twenty students assisted in sorting and packaging donated food that would later be distributed to those in need. In total, student volunteers prepared 4,114 meals during this effort. 

GIVING BACK TO OUR TAMPA BAY COMMUNITIES 

The Honors College organized this opportunity for students as a meaningful way to give back to the community. Participation in Honors Community Service Day also allowed students to fulfill an experiential learning requirement. 
 
Community Service Day was coordinated by the Honors College Living and Learning Community (LLC) in collaboration with the Honors Peer Mentors and the Tampa Judy Genshaft Honors College Student Council. 
 
Future volunteer opportunities will be available to LLC students in the upcoming academic year and the Judy Genshaft Honors Student Council participates in volunteer and fundraising efforts year-round.