UA’s 57 Miles Sends Freshmen to Service Projects in Marion

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — About 50 freshmen and 10 student leaders from The University of Alabama will perform service projects in Marion from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4. The projects include cleaning storefronts, landscaping around the town square and removing trash from empty buildings.

The UA organization 57 Miles is joining with UA’s Honors Year One for the revitalization projects. The organization also is partnering with Marion Bank and Trust for the event. This partner has pledged both volunteers and resources to support the afternoon’s projects.

Honors College students will leave from Tuscaloosa at 11:30 a.m. Saturday and will arrive in Marion at approximately 1 p.m. After the work is completed, students and student leaders will discuss the day’s events in small groups. Following small-group discussions, Honors students and community members will share dinner and ice cream at P³ – the Honors College’s new community space on the Downtown Square in Marion.

In addition to the Oct. 4 event, 57 Miles is planning a follow-up Afternoon of Service Saturday, Oct. 25, at Francis Marion High School in Marion.

Founded in the summer of 2013, 57 Miles is a campus-community partnership between The University of Alabama Honors College and Perry County. Through 57 Miles, Honors students have year-round opportunities to give back to communities-in-need, learn about the Black Belt’s vibrant history, and put education into action by tackling real challenges of rural poverty.