Service Initiatives


At the turn of the twentieth century, Dr. David English Camak, the founder of what is now Spartanburg Methodist College, envisioned a school that would help students escape the cycle of poverty. Through hard work and a good education, a student could not only improve his or her life but could also contribute to improving the surrounding community. Today, SMC students continue in Dr. Camak's vision. In addition to their rigorous academic schedule, students are encouraged to participate in community service to enhance their education and improve the world around them.

Through annual service efforts and beyond, SMC students are able to assist numerous local community service agencies.

 


Centennial Service Challenge

The Centennial Service Challenge is a service initiative in which SMC faculty, staff, alumni and students are encouraged to give back to the Spartanburg communty between Aug. 21, 2010 and April 21, 2011. The emphasis is on each person putting in 100 hours of community during that 100-day time period. The Service Challenge is another activity through which SMC is celebrating its Centennial year, its history, and its legacy of service. Visit our Centennial Service Challenge page for more details.

 


Freshmen Day of Service2009 Freshmen Day of Service

Each acdemic year at SMC starts off with the college's annual Freshmen Day of Service, which was first held in 2001. Entering freshmen are introduced to the needs of Spartanburg County on their first full day - the first Saturday - on campus.

The freshmen, divided into small groups led by a faculty/staff member and two sophomores, are sent to schools, children's shelters, animal shelters, assisted living facilities, churches, soup kitchens, etc. to assist with such tasks as cleaning, painting, cooking, socializing, landscaping and any other task the service organization may need.



Kappa Sigma Alpha

Kappa Sigma Alpha is the co-ed service fraternity at Spartanburg Methodist College. Under the direction of Mr. Pete Aylor and a dedicated student-led Board, KSA is able to perform hundreds of hours of community service in the Spartanburg area. From Adopt-a-Hwy, to playing bingo at an assisted living facility; from playing with the animals at the animal shelter, to collecting shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child; from assisting the Lion's Club, to helping students at the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind experience the HALTER program, members of KSA discover the joy of serving others.


Fall Break Mission Trip

Students are invited to participate in a mission trip over Fall Break. Recent mission trip projects have included assisting with the Christmas in Action Fall Rebuilding Day, volunteering with Habitat for Humanity and the Second Presbyterian Soup Kitchen, and more!

The Fall Break Mission Trip is a great way for students to give back to organizations within the community

Martin Luther King, Jr. Service Challenge

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, students at SMC gather to make vegetable soup at the homes of faculty/staff. Once the soup is made it is frozen for the local soup kitchen. Each group of students then compete to see which group can bring in the most servings of non-perishable food items.

The Martin Luther King Service Challenge is held each year

Relay for Life

SMC students join students from the other colleges in Spartanburg for a College Relay for Life to raise money and awareness for cancer research.

SMC competes in the Relay for Life each spring

 

CSI: College Town Service Initiative

The CollegeTown  Service Initiative is held each spring and involves students from all of  the Spartanburg County colleges

CSI is a project of the College Town consortium, a collaboration of the institutions of higher education in Spartanburg County - Converse College, Sherman College, Spartanburg Methodist College, Spartanburg Community College, the University of South Carolina Upstate and Wofford College. CSI is held each spring and allows students to participate in groups of varying sizes to provide much-needed services to a variety of Spartanburg service agencies. Agencies such as The Haven, Habitat for Humanity, the Charles Lea Center, Miracle Life Mission, the Bethlehem Center and the Salvation Army Thrift Store are just a few of the many which students have assisted during the CSI event.