Monday, November 2, 2009

Westminster College students participated in activities coordinated through Westminster's Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning as part of the ninth annual National Make-a-Difference Day Oct. 24. 

Westminster students helped collect, transport, and distribute donated items for the Lawrence County Community Action Partnership's (LCCAP) Community Yard Sale at the Ben Franklin Early Learning Center in New Castle.

Angie Mohr, youth programs assistant coordinator for LCCAP, felt the free yard sale was a huge success. The event took in over 4,000 donated items, and included 60 volunteers and 500 community members seeking resources.

Another group of Westminster students helped with a cleanup effort by painting several rooms at Ark House, a women's shelter at Southwest Gardens in Farrell.

"As a community, you can invest in money and time, but at some point, those all disappear," said Martha Richards, whose vision it was to start Southwest Gardens and create the women's shelter. "The greatest and most important thing anyone can do is invest in people."

"Make-a-Difference Day was an amazing success," said Jeff Ledebur, Americorps VISTA in the Drinko Center who coordinated the Westminster activities for the day. "All of the participants should be very proud of the work they accomplished throughout the weekend."

Contact Ledebur at (724) 946-6194 or e-mail ledebujt@westminster.edu for additional information.

About Westminster College...
Founded in 1852 and related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Westminster College is a top tier liberal arts college and a national leader in graduation rate performance, according to U.S. News Guide to America's Best Colleges. Westminster ranked third among liberal arts colleges in social mobility, according to the Washington Monthly College Guide, and is one of the most affordable national liberal arts colleges in Pennsylvania. Westminster is also honored as one of "The Best 371 Colleges" and "Best in the Northeast" by The Princeton Review, and is named to the President's Honor Roll for excellence in service learning.

Nearly 1,600 undergraduate and graduate students benefit from individualized attention from dedicated faculty while choosing from 41 majors and nearly 100 organizations on the New Wilmington, Pa., campus.