Every November, Public Service and Outreach (PSO) faculty and staff step out of their offices and into the community for the Week of Service. It’s a tradition that combines the University of Georgia’s mission of service with the spirit of giving — and has done so for over a decade.
This year, 216 faculty and staff contributed 479 hours across 23 impactful, coordinated projects. These efforts make a tangible difference and reinforce why service is essential to UGA’s identity.
Not only does the Week of Service benefit our communities, but it’s an opportunity for PSO employees to unite around a shared purpose. Having a dedicated week also makes it easier to act on the desire to serve and make a difference.
“The opportunity to give back to the community through the Week of Service is one reason I enjoy working in Public Service and Outreach,” said Missy Wilson, sales department manager at the UGA Center for Continuing Education & Hotel who worked a shift at the Project Safe Thrift Store in Athens. “Being able to make a difference is such a rewarding experience.”
Beverly Johnson, director of the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, said she values the Week of Service for the chance to help local communities while building camaraderie with colleagues.
“Serving alongside other PSO unit team members is an additional benefit to being able to support Athens-Clarke County and surrounding communities,” she said.
In Athens-Clarke County, the impact is visible. With over 18 Athens-area sites for volunteers to choose from, there is a serving opportunity for everyone. Volunteers spend the week delivering meals to neighbors in need, caring for animals at local shelters, weeding community gardens, spreading mulch, planting daffodils along the Loop and more. These simple acts strengthen connections and build trust, serving as a reminder that UGA’s mission extends beyond campus.
“It was a great opportunity to not only learn about a local organization, but also see how we made the staff’s day just a little bit easier,” said Julia Dietz, public service faculty at the Carl Vinson Institute of Government who served at the Athens Humane Society.
Students also play a key role in the Week of Service. PSO Student Scholars gained hands-on service experience contributing to the 13th annual Turkeypalooza, a UGA and community event providing holiday meals for those experiencing food insecurity. Their participation demonstrates how service learning connects classroom knowledge to real-world impact and reflects UGA’s commitment to preparing future leaders who value civic engagement and community development.
The commitment doesn’t stop in Athens. PSO units across Georgia join in, lending their time and talents to projects on the coast, in Atlanta and in communities around the state, like collecting books for literacy programs in Archway Partnership communities.
“We are grateful for the support of our PSO colleagues who donated books to Colquitt County and other Archway communities. Their generosity strengthens our efforts to support and expand local literacy initiatives,” said Sara Hand, the Archway Partnership Professional in Colquitt County.
This year’s Week of Service also included a supply drive that collected non-perishable food for Campus Kitchen clients and diapers for families served by the Athens Area Diaper Bank.
Now in its 11th year, the Week of Service is more than volunteer work. It’s a promise that when we come together, we make Georgia stronger. Faculty and staff aren’t just giving back, they’re carrying out UGA’s land-grant mission in ways that matter most through action.
