Baylor Community 'Steppin' Out' To Help Around Waco

November 19, 2008

by Lillyan Baker, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805
Baylor University's community of student organizations will come together for Steppin' Out on Saturday, Nov. 22, starting at noon, for a day of service throughout various locations in the Waco community.
This year nearly 3,300 students are expected to participate at 76 job sites, and will provide an estimated 10,200 hours of service. Volunteers will paint houses, conduct yard work, visit retirement homes and help clean up trash in ditches and parks around Waco. Some of the work will benefit the World Hunger Farm.

"Steppin' Out wants to build awareness among the general student population at Baylor, in hopes that this awareness will lead to action," said Sonja Davidson, Baylor junior and member of the Steppin' Out steering committee. "We want to bridge the gap between Baylor students and the Waco community to become one community, by giving information about the need and ways to get involved."
Sponsored by the department of student activities, Steppin' Out is a nationally recognized program that has inspired other universities to initiate a campus-wide day of service of their own.
Steppin' Out receives a $10,000 grant per year from the Baylor-Waco Foundation, which assists in purchasing tools. Sherwin Williams also donates all paint used in the event.

The Steppin' Out Steering Committee developed an educational campaign called 'More than just a day...', which aims to raise awareness on campus. The service after-party hosted by Steppin' Out, will be off-campus in Dewey Park (9th St. and Bosque) to allow the Baylor and Waco community to celebrate together.
For more information, please contact Davidson at Sonja_Davidson@Baylor.edu or visit the student activities web site at www.baylor.edu/student_activities.