By Rider Farris | Reporter
Students from all over campus came together Saturday to participate in Steppin’ Out, a university-sponsored day of service that provides assistance to the greater Waco area through coordinated service projects. Both individuals and student groups were encouraged to participate in the event, which took place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. throughout Waco.
This weekend marked Dallas junior Jessica Howard’s third year participating in Steppin’ Out. She volunteered Saturday through her Panhellenic sorority Alpha Delta Pi and helped clean out trash and debris from a graveyard located near Collin Street Bakery. She was part of an effort to clean up the graveyard so a fence could possibly be built on the property in the future.
“I just love doing [Steppin’ Out] with the people that I’m there with,” Howard said. “I’ve done it with several different organizations on campus, but whether it’s my sisters, or my friends, or anything like that, just knowing that I’m with other people that have that same servant’s heart — going out into the community and serving — it’s good to know that there are other people that care. And that solidifies why I’m here at Baylor.”
Howard said she enjoyed the ability to get out into the community and learn a little bit about the area and the history of the graveyard in which she had worked. She also said aiding in the beautification of her community is important to her because she is studying environmental studies.
“I just really value giving back to the community and I love seeing people come together and really help a good cause,” Howard said. “Going into the community and finding out a lot about stuff that has importance to people was really great. We need to get out of our Baylor bubble a lot more.”
Pittsburg sophomore Eric Dunbar also participated in Steppin’ Out. Through his Interfraternity Council organization Kappa Alpha Order, Dunbar worked to help clean up the Master’s Workshop Camp. He helped clean tables and chairs, paint a bookshelf and trim brush along a couple hundred yards of dirt road.
“I like volunteering,” Dunbar said. “I don’t mind doing it. I volunteer also at the Indian Spring Middle School at their after-school program. It’s good to give back. I appreciate doing that.”
Dunbar has volunteered in Steppin’ Out with his fraternity in the past. Like Howard, Dunbar said that the best thing about Steppin’ Out is being able to give back to the community while also having fun alongside his friends.
“I think it’s a good program,” Dunbar said. “It’s a good chance to get into the community and meet people and go to areas that you haven’t been before — places that you don’t even know exist. And I just see a completely different side of Waco.”
