COLUMBIA, S.C. (courtesy ciu.edu) — Hundreds of Columbia International University students spanned out across greater Columbia for the fourth annual RAMServe day on April 2. The Ram is the CIU mascot, but in this case, RAM stands for “Renewal Around the Midlands,” as the students took part in nearly 30 community service projects with several CIU professors lending a hand, as well.
For example, the students assisted the Wheeler Hill Neighborhood Association with landscaping at Maxey Gregg Park and the Lourie Senior Center; they cleared brush, painted, and sanded doors at the Victory Ranch ministry to the military in Eastover; and they painted a new apartment being renovated at Reconciliation Ministries in the St. Andrews area.
At Reconciliation Ministries, the harmonizing voices of three CIU female students could be heard through the open windows on Beatty Downs Road — singing hymns as they painted.
Among them was freshman Paris Acquah, a nursing major who told local media on the scene that serving takes many different forms.
“I love serving others, even nursing itself has a lot to do with serving … this shows me that serving can take so many different aspects of society — even painting. I love this experience,” Acquah said.
Reconciliation Ministries assists men with addictions through a residential recovery and discipleship program. Executive Director Ashley Arrington says the ministry has been a partner with CIU since the inception of RAMServe.
Please click here to read the entire news release on the Columbia International University website.