Providence, R.I.--The inaugural Providence College Building Bridges day of service brought together more than 1,100 members of the College community for various service activities in cities and towns across the state.

Building Bridges was held on Saturday, September 5, at nearly 40 sites including five state parks, the SeaBee Museum in North Kingstown, community gardens, and churches.

The entire Class of 2013, faculty, staff, and upperclass student leaders participated in the day's activities, which included painting, landscaping, cleaning, and picking up trash. The volunteers included College President Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. '80, who worked at Neutaconkanut Park in Providence, and 150 site leaders from the College and local communities.

Mission of service day fulfilled
The purpose of Building Bridges, which took place during the College's revised and expanded New Student Orientation, was to create a deeper feeling of community, on- and off-campus, by engaging students, faculty, staff, and community partners in service projects.

"It was a wonderful way for students to interact informally with each other and with the faculty and staff site leaders," said Sharon L. Hay, dean of student programming in the Office of Student Activities-Involvement-Leadership (S.A.I.L.)/Slavin Center.

Hay noted that her office will be conducting formal assessments soon.

"Many have already expressed that they hope we'll continue the day in the future and would like to work with us. It appeared to be the highlight of orientation for many," she said.

Dr. Richard M. Battistoni, professor of political science and of public and community service studies, served as one of the site leaders at a community garden in Warwick, R.I. His group harvested vegetables that were donated to a local food bank.

"For me, the greatest strength was being able to work alongside students in the community, to get to know a group of new students, and to introduce them to the community and the idea of conducting community service in Rhode Island while they are a student," he said.

Battistoni's feelings of togetherness and purpose also carried over to the students who participated. Anna Fox '11 of Wethersfield, Conn., was one of the volunteers pulling weeds and painting a fence at the Jamestown Philomenian Library.

"At the end of the day, our few hours of work transformed the area," she said. "Weeding and painting may not be saving the world but it made a difference to someone, and that's what makes this whole experience worthwhile."

The day of service captured the attention of the local print and television media, including one community newspaper that applauded the College's efforts in an editorial.

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