Annual Events
GCSU Gives Day
2025 GCSU Gives Day | Saturday, August 16 | 8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
GCSU Gives Day is hosted annually during Week of Welcome. Started in 2018, the aim of GCSU Gives Day is to introduce new students to the community through service projects. Students learn more about local organizations and other non-profits beyond the college campus, meet new people, and begin to build relationships in the community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the non-profit community partners that students work with?
We collaborate and serve with over 35 non-profits on this one day of service! All of these non-profits are located within a 20-minute drive radius of Milledgeville. In past years, we have worked with K-12 public schools, historic preservation organizations, animal shelters, local farms, and more.
What types of projects can the students do?
Service project locations are based on community needs and requests. Students have cleaned up roadways, waterways, and walkways, cleared and built garden beds, built and refurnished furniture, painted murals, played games with elementary school children, hosted bingo with residents at nursing homes, and assisted with fundraiser events.
How are students paired with the volunteer project site?
All first-year students are enrolled in a 1 credit course related to their major. We link students to volunteer sites based on this course, so they travel with their classmates to a site/project that aligns with their career interests.
What is the schedule for the half-day of service?
Students volunteer from 8:30am-12:30pm but separated into two shifts. The first shift is from 8:30am-10:30am and the second shift is from 10:30am-12:30pm. They switch shifts at the project site, so the non-profits are never without volunteers. When students arrive they spend time learning about the non-profit organization, what they do, and learn more information about how to volunteer in the future. Then it is project time!
Do you provide project supplies?
We are able to cover the cost of some supplies and materials for the students. Specific tool and supply requests will be discussed with each non-profit partner. Some items we provide include trash grabbers, trash bags, work/garden gloves, yard/garden tools, sunscreen, bug spray, etc. We cannot purchase items like flowers for landscaping, pine straw, house paint, etc.
If you are interested in sponsoring a project or providing funds please email ashley.copeland@gcsu.edu
Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service
The Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday is an official day of service and celebrates the civil rights leader's life and legacy. During this national day of service each year, Americans across the country volunteer their time to make their communities more equitable and take action to create the Beloved Community of Dr. King's dream. His example is our call to action. On the Monday holiday, we invite members of our entire community to engage with each other to create constructive action, act on the legacy of social justice, and volunteer to serve others in meaningful ways.
For more information, to volunteer, or to discuss ideas for a service project, e-mail give@gcsu.edu
Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week
Hunger and homelessness awareness week occurs annually in November. People across the country come together to draw attention to the problems of hunger and homelessness holding educational, service, fundraising, and advocacy events. Since 2001, GCSU hosted an annual Potato Drop where volunteers would sort and bag 40,000 pounds of potatoes to feed more thank 100K individuals. The founder of the GIVE Center, Kendall Stiles, had a passion for addressing issues of hunger. Now, we build on that passion to offer a full week of programs and service opportunities to build up supporters and volunteers for local anti-poverty agencies.
Learn more about the National Hunger and Homelessness Week, visit the website.
Random Acts of Kindness Week
In February, our campus community comes together to make kindness the norm. We share ideas and host events for practicing random acts of kindness to impact the lives of friends, family, GCSU, our community, and even ourselves.
Find resources for practicing kindness at school, home, and at work by visiting the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation website.
Dance Marathon
Georgia College Miracle is the largest student-led fundraiser on the Georgia College & State University campus. Starting in 2005, Dance Marathon and Georgia College Miracle has made a huge difference for Children's Hospital, Navicent Health and its patients. Everyone in the Miracle family participates in raising as much money as possible by the end of the year. But, participants are not on their own for raising money. Throughout the year, there are multiple fundraising events to help make miracles. These events are put on during the year and lead up to the 12-hour event of Dance Marathon. GC Miracle is dancing its way to over $1,000,000 raised in 19 years for the Beverly Knight Olson's Children's Hospital, Navicent Health.
For more information and to get involved, visit the Georgia College Miracle website.
Reoccurring Events
Service Saturdays
These days of service occur twice a month. We have student volunteers participate in various service projects around the Milledgeville-Baldwin County Community. If you want to learn more about how to become a service site, email give@gcsu.edu
Blood Drives
Hosted by the American Red Cross, on GCSU campus. To learn about ways to volunteer or to become a donor, visit the Red Cross website.
Non-Profit Fairs
We invite non-profit organizations to network with the GCSU campus and share more information about ways to get involved in their work. To be notified of the next fair, email give@gcsu.edu