More than 200 Bethany College students, staff, and faculty volunteered for the inaugural “Swede Sweep,” a day devoted to group service projects around Lindsborg.

Projects took place across the community as well as along Burma Road and Bethany Drive with McPherson County road crews. More than 170 incoming freshmen and 35 upperclassmen Pathfinder mentors participated.

“It was satisfying to work side by side with Bethany students,” says Kathy Richardson, owner of downtown’s Small World Gallery. “The students who I saw were working hard—many with great teamwork, given that many of them just met each other.”

The Swede Sweep finished cement floors in the new TACOL Thrift Shop expansion, moved books and painted a room at the Lindsborg Community Library, removed rain water from new trash receptacles stored by the City of Lindsborg at the Tree Station, completed outdoor and indoor tasks at the McPherson County Old Mill property, painted at Vision_Tek, did outdoor chores at the YMCA Children’s Center, removed debris from the Coronado Motel’s RV area, filed and moved material at the Raymer Society/Red Barn Studio, and painted and cleaned windows at Connected.

“It was a great way to introduce new students both to the community in Lindsborg and to put Bethany’s core values–servant leadership, community, hospitality and sustainability—in action,” says Dean for Student Development Dan Dentino, Ph.D. “We worked with several community leaders and business owners to plan the day, which was a great experience for all involved. We look forward to continued partnerships like this in the future.”

The Swede Sweep was part of Bethany’s 2013 Orientation, which welcomes new students to campus and the community. View photos from the day on Bethany’s Facebook at www.facebook.com/bethanycollegeks.

Story by: Stephanie McDowell / Bethany College