120 SMU students to volunteer in Winona community Saturday

Winona Friendship Center project to involve 80 students

WINONA, Minn. — About 120 students from Saint Mary’s University — a mixture of athletes and new students — will serve six organizations in Winona on Saturday, Aug. 31, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. as part of New Student Volunteer Day.

Throughout the day, about 80 students will be painting the main room of the Winona Friendship Center, located at Main and 5th streets. The Friendship Center received a “Picture-It-Painted” Grant from Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, in partnership with Valspar Corporation, and Saint Mary’s students will help bring some much-needed color to their space. The room — after 41 gallons of paint — will go from off-white to a rich green with brown accents. The Saint Mary’s Volunteer Mentors and Campus Ministry are collaborating with the Friendship Center and organizers of the event.

New Student Volunteer Day is dedicated to providing new SMU students with the opportunity to engage with the Winona community, and to be inspired by the Lasallian spirit of service early in their college careers.