College students give back to Campbellsville community

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. (LEX 18) — A new school year means new opportunities for growth and healing for students at Campbellsville University following the murder of one of their classmates in February. Today, students participated in a day of service to thank their community for their support while also giving back.

“People often grow up with adversity and adversity,” senior Katlyn Whitworth said. Sophomore Samuel Larson added: “We really try to be there for each other.”

With a semester removed from the death of 18-year-old Josiah Kilman, Campbellsville Students are thanking the community through service.

“CU Day of Service is part of the Campbellsville mission week we do here every year,” Whitworth explained. “It’s basically an opportunity for students to go out and serve the community.”

“It’s a way to give back to the community and learn more about your community,” Larson said.

Those acts of service include cooking at a soup kitchen that serves more than 400 people a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and partnering with the Trail Town organization to help clean up a popular hiking trail in the community there.

“I think we need to connect with people,” sophomore Audrey Dejaynes said. “It’s hard, but serving helps you do that because it puts you in a very humbling atmosphere.”

This year, CU Day of Service includes showing love and appreciation to a community that provided tremendous support to students after the tragedy in February.

“As long as you put yourself out there and are willing to be there for others, they will be there for you,” Larson said.

For some students, serving the community is also part of their personal development and faith.

“That’s a big part of serving and the importance of serving,” Dejaynes said. “It takes you out of your comfort zone and puts you in other people’s comfort zones.”

“This is a great way to show them the love of Jesus and also show them that as Christians we care about them and want to be there for them,” Whitworth added.