DANVILLE, Va. – One hundred fifty kids from Impact Mission Camps are in Danville all week, helping rehab homes.
The kids are staying in the dorms at Averett University.
This is just the latest example of the university's commitment to giving back.
"During the summer, obviously those dorms are open and we invite camps to come in," said Averett Marketing and Communication specialist Danielle Staub.
"We really value the partnership that we have with the churches here and with Averett University. (It's) really helping to show students what it looks like to connect to a community and invest in that community," said IMPACT Mission Camps coordinator Glenn Maddox.
Averett's service year projects, created as a way for Averett students to help local organizations, is another way the university gives back.
In a Time Magazine op-ed last month about the importance of service year projects, retired U.S. Army General Stanley McChrystal mentioned Averett, saying, "More of America's colleges could make a similar commitment."
"We teach our students to be catalysts for positive change and through the Center for Community Engagement and Career Competitiveness we have a lot of volunteer opportunities for our students," said Staub.
Kathy Cunnigham and her sister are both having their homes worked on this week by the Impact Mission Camps kids.
"I would have gotten it done, but it would have taken me some years to get it done," Cunnigham said.
She is proud to see her home town university so committed to giving back.
"I did attend Averett for two years, so I'm very proud to be in the city with Averett," Cunnigham said.
A sense of pride the university hopes to continue to build, one project at a time.