Students Make Ripples in Tuscaloosa on Community Service Day

August 21, 2023 Written by Laura Braddick 1 min read
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Before hitting the books this fall, more than 500 UA students took time to give back to the Tuscaloosa community.

The annual Ripple Effect day of service is a UA tradition and part of Weeks of Welcome. Groups of students spend half the day on site at more than a dozen local nonprofit and community organizations, helping with everything from boxing food at the West Alabama Food Bank to bathing animals at the Metro Animal Shelter.

“We really want to instill a love of service and a love for the Tuscaloosa community,” said Rebecca Wilson, a team leader for the UA Center for Service and Leadership, which organized the event. “We hope they take away that love for service and want to continue to be involved.”

Here are a few snapshots from the day.

one student volunteer standing on the back of a truck hands a bag to another volunteer
a volunteer carries garbage bags filled with donated items
two students help unload a truck
a large group of student volunteers pose
student volunteers paint a entrance ramp hand rail a bright turquoise color
a volunteer cleans a window
two volunteers paint the ceiling of a habitat for humanity house
a group of volunteers poses while taking a break
a student plants flowers
four students stand in the library they helped organize
student reshelf books
student volunteer power washes concrete
a student gives a dog a bath
three students pose in front of animals they are helping