VCU lends a neighborly hand to help clean up the Carver community

By Jennifer Curtis
University News Services

Christmas came in April this year for the Carver community, and Virginia Commonwealth University volunteers were a part of the group that made it happen.

Volunteers from VCU and other organizations in the Richmond area met at Carver Elementary School early in the morning and worked all day on the urban revitalization project for the Carver, Jackson Ward and Newtowne West communities neighborhoods. The project consisted of helping to repair homes for the elderly and disabled.

This effort was part of a nationwide project, “Rebuilding together with Christmas in April,” that gave students, faculty and staff a chance to contribute to VCU’s partnership with the Carver community.

“One of the things that attracted me to VCU originally was the University's mission to give back to the community,” said Christina Turner, associate professor of anthropology and volunteer for the project. “An urban university working for the betterment of the greater community in which we all live is what education is really about---fostering, mentoring and encouraging future citizens.”

Approximately 200 VCU volunteers raised over $7,300 as a result of working on “Rebuilding together with Christmas in April.” VCU’s volunteers worked on three houses, and also assisted by working on the park, community garden, graffiti removal and trash pick-up.

“We had a surprisingly good turnout,” said VCU political science major and project leader, Jeff Knighton.“ Everything ran extremely smoothly.”