By Amanda Bradshaw Sharpe
University Relations

MURFREESBORO – The Campus Ministry at Chowan University hosted its annual Chowan Cares on Nov. 5-10 to engage students in community service and instill in them the importance of giving back.

The week kicked-off with Christmas Cards for Door of Hope staff in South Africa in the Hawks Nest. Campus Ministry will partner with Door of Hope for a second time summer 2019 when they travel to Johannesburg, South Africa, to help support the mission of caring for abandoned babies. Campus Ministry first served with Door of Hope summer 2017.

On Nov. 6, Campus Ministry organized the Election Day Prayer. Participants prayed for the campus, community, and nation at noon beneath the flag poles in front of McDowell Columns Hall. Faculty and staff members joined in solidarity to give thanks and request guidance.

Sock donations for Preble Street in Portland, Maine, were accepted all day on Nov. 7 in the Campus Ministry office. Preble Street is an organization that works with people experiencing homelessness. A Campus Ministry team served with Preble Street summer 2018 and is grateful to continue to support their ongoing needs and homelessness relief efforts.

Notes for Backpack buddies to be distributed throughout the Ahoskie foodbank were written by students in the Hawks Nest on Nov. 8. Earlier in the semester during the Welcome Week program, Campus Ministry built Backpack Buddies, filled with nutritious, kid-friendly food to distribute to children who might otherwise go without over the weekend.

Chowan Cares week concluded with a 24-hour freedom fast sponsored by International Justice Mission (IJM) that began Nov. 9 and ended the next day. Participants stood in solidarity with oppressed people across the globe, fasting for 24 hours, praying 24 prayers, and raising $240 to help liberate enslaved people all over the world. The initiative encouraged participants to go a day without food for a future without slavery. Campuses across the country partnered to help IJM.

Each year, during the month of November, Chowan University Campus Ministry sponsors Chowan Cares to inspire service in the local community. Chowan Campus Ministry encourages students to be mindful, thankful and serve, while taking into consideration how groups and organizations (classes, clubs, ministries, fraternities/sororities, departments, teams) can help the greater community by serving others and are emboldened to carry those ideas out. To get involved, contact Mari Wiles at 252-398-6268 or wilesm@chowan.edu.