This impact report highlights the superb happenings of our 2021 Day of Beneficence.

Volunteers pose inside Second Harvest Food Bank in Muncie, IndianaOn April 24, 2021, Ball State University’s Alumni Association held its Day of Beneficence for 2021. On this day, volunteers from around the country participate in community service projects, donate their time, and give back to their communities in acts of selflessness and goodwill. This report highlights the impact of the work of more than 180 amazing volunteers across eight states.

116 volunteers spread across five states—California, Florida, Indiana, New York, and Ohio—participated in 25 organized projects that amounted to more than 350 hours of community service. These projects included:

  • Habitat for Humanity Home Build (Muncie) – Volunteers landscaped, spread grass seed and straw, and picked up trash from the alley behind the home to prepare it to receive a deserved family.
  • Second Harvest Food Bank (Muncie) – Eight volunteers assembled 520 hygiene bags and labeled 1,800 cans of food.
  • South View Elementary (Muncie) – Volunteers hand-painted cement pavers lining the entrance to the school, which was cleared of overgrowth and dirt.
  • Grissom Elementary (Muncie) – A 30’x5’ bed was prepared to plant perennials as soon as the weather permits.
  • Damien Center (Indianapolis) – 200 Harm Reduction naloxone packets were assembled to assist those engaged in active substance abuse.
  • Horizon House (Indianapolis) – Volunteers worked in the donation center and performed landscaping tasks.
  • Cancer Support Community (Indianapolis) – Volunteers trimmed and cleaned out flower beds, bushes, and the patio area.
  •  Fort Wayne Pet Food Pantry (Fort Wayne) – Volunteers bagged pet food and treats to assist financially struggling families keep their pets at home.
  • GiGi’s Playhouse: Down Syndrome Achievement Center (Fort Wayne) – Volunteers painted the tutor rooms.
  • City Gospel Mission Whiz Kids (Cincinnati, Ohio) – Volunteers packed birthday celebration boxes for children in the program.
  • Harry Chapin Food Bank (Southwest Florida) – Volunteers assisted at a mobile food distribution site.
  • Hang Out Do Good (Los Angeles, California) – Volunteers connected via Zoom while preparing sack lunches for the Hollywood Food Coalition to distribute to the hungry and homeless.
  • Potato Creek State Park Clean-Up (Michiana) – Chapter leaders, along with Alumni Association President Jamie Acton, picked up trash to help prepare the park for spring guests.
  • JoyJ Initiative Homeless Outreach (New York City) – Alumni met viz Zoom while packing care bags of personal hygiene items provided by the volunteers, to be distributed by JoyJ volunteers to homeless persons in New York City.

20 alumni registered their individual acts of service in six states: Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky. Together, they contributed more than 50 hours of community service. Examples of these projects include:Volunteers pose outside the Ross Community Center in Muncie, Indiana

  • Cleaning up Muncie’s Ross Community Center
  • Volunteering at Huntington County Baseball
  • Cleaning up the Carmel Lions Club

Our volunteers organized two supply drives:Volunteers selfie at Potato Creek State Park in the Michiana area

  • The American Red Cross – The Nursing Alumni Society, under the leadership of board members Dlynn Baughman Melo, Jessica Duncan, Heather Beane, and Cherylnn Bennett, held a drive for collecting personal hygiene items at the Health Professions Building and IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital.  Three large garbage bags of personal hygiene supplies were collected and delivered to the Red Cross.  The articles were too numerous to count, but the Red Cross was delighted with the donations and indicated that the gift would last them quite some time.
  • Muncie Community Schools – A school supply drive was held, resulting in over $200 in school supplies to assist in student wellness and learning.

Our volunteers organized two blood drives:

  • At the Alumni Center, 24 students gave 16 whole blood and four double red cell donations for a total of 24 blood products, which could potentially impact up to 72 lives!
  • At other Indianapolis blood drive centers, 12 alumni donated blood.  10 whole blood and two double red cell donations were collected for a total of 14 blood products, which could potentially impact up to 42 lives!

54 notes of welcome to admitted students and 25 notes of congratulations to graduating Ball State seniors were received.

Two out-of-state alumni who could not participate in a project donated financially to two of the Muncie projects:Volunteers work outside in one of the gardens at Heritage Gardens

  • $100 to the Second Harvest Food Bank
  • $100 to Grateful Rescue & Sanctuary