#Drew23 Starts Year with Day of Service

First-year class immersed in community from the jump.

August 2019 – It didn’t take long for Drew University’s Class of 2023 to get their hands dirty. Literally.

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As part of Welcome Week, a group of 45 first-year students volunteered at the non-profit Grow-a-Row farm in Pittstown, NJ.

The only requirements for participation were class year, a strong back and a smile.

The students, along with several members of the Mighty OC, faculty and staff, harvested crops that the organization delivers to food-insecure areas, food pantries, soup kitchens and crisis centers throughout New Jersey.

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Some numbers on the excursion: 6,600 (not a typo) peppers picked, enough for 25,000 servings.

“This experience is helpful for first-year students because it allows them to meet peers that have the same passion and love for helping others as they do,” said Cassidy Conklin C’22, a member of Drew’s Orientation Committee.

“Experiences like this show students how volunteering, even for just three short hours, can help hundreds of families get the nutrients that they need to live healthy and happy lives.”