By Jaci Schneider, Staff Writer

Many students, faculty and alumni will gather to “shine” Saturday in the annual ACU for Abilene service day.

In the past, as many as 500 volunteers helped clean up Lake Fort Phantom, worked with non-profit organizations such as The House That Kerry Built and the Food Bank of Abilene, planted flowers and participated in numerous other service activities.

This year the event has been marketed with the tagline “shine.”

Heather Sheets, junior biology major from Muleshoe, said she remembers cleaning out an elderly woman’s house so the woman wouldn’t have to move into a retirement home.

Jonathan Chatham, sophomore biology major from San Antonio, said he enjoys serving others and thinks it’s good that ACU encourages students who wouldn’t otherwise to serve.

“I think I’m self-motivated to do that kind of stuff, but not many people are,” he said. “If it weren’t for ACU, many people wouldn’t serve.”

Jed Arnold, senior accounting major from Bulverde, has participated in ACU for Abilene the past two years and said he is planning to participate Saturday.

“Service is one of the many reasons I came to ACU,” he said. “It has taught me a lot about myself and how God uses us to work in his kingdom.”

For more information visit the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center office next to the Bean Sprout.