National Community Service Day: Mustangs Make A Difference

SMU alumni in 11 chapters from coast to coast put pony power to work for good causes during the first annual National Community Service Day October 29. A total of 245 participants helped nonprofits and other organizations in the following cities:
• Atlanta: Assisted the United Methodist Children’s Home, a safe haven for abused and neglected children and youth.
• Chicago: Helped spruce up Onward Neighborhood House, which offers educational, recreational and social services programs. Afterward, alumni gathered for an SMU-Tulsa watch party.
• Dallas: Black Alumni of SMU launched the project with a bread drive and were joined by other Mustangs at eXcuses eXtreme Café in Deep Ellum to make sandwiches. The food was distributed to the homeless through Random Acts of Kindness’ SoupMobile.
• Houston: Distributed books donated by Half Price Books and discussed the importance of reading with youngsters involved in the Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) at Sharpstown College Prep School.
• Los Angeles: Worked with Heal the Bay’s Nothing But Sand program to clean up Venice Beach.
• Nashville: Sorted, stored and boxed food at Second Harvest Food Bank.
• New York City: Following a walking route, volunteers delivered meals to the homebound elderly.
• Orlando: Prepared meals for families served by Ronald McDonald House Charities and helped them design thank-you cards.
• St. Louis: Pitched in at City Academy, which offers recreational and educational programs in an urban setting.
• Salt Lake City: Sorted and distributed food to the needy at the Utah Food Bank.
• Washington, D.C.: Aided So Others May Eat (SOME), which provides food, clothing and health services to the poor and homeless.