Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NORTH MANCHESTER - Nearly 30 Manchester College students in Garver Hall, second floor, have developed a January term service project titled "Scruff-A-Thon."
Garver Men's Second residents are dedicating their time this month to better the lives of those less fortunate. Their mission statement includes "helping the community unite in a peaceful manner."
GMII participants will voluntarily not shave or cut their hair during January session at Manchester College, Jan. 4 through Wednesday.
The Scruff-A-Thon goal is to raise $500 to be donated to the Firehouse, Main Street, North Manchester, owned by the Park and Recreation Department.
During the summer, Zach Hawkins,18, and Josh White, 19, Manchester High School graduates, opened the Firehouse as a place for all ages to hang out, enjoy live music from various local bands and sip coffee drinks from a local coffee vendor.
Currently, the Firehouse, occupying the old fire station in North Manchester, is run by the Firehouse management board, which includes volunteers from North Manchester.
Hawkins and White earlier said funding came from grants, including grants from the Lutheran Foundation and the Community Foundation of Wabash County, as well as several personal donations from North Manchester residents.
Money raised from the Scruff-A-Thon "will go toward paying for bands to come in and play and also help with damage that has occurred to the roof recently," a press release stated. "We look forward to work(ing) with all the crazy cats at the Firehouse and hope to have a positive impact on the relationship between the college and the community."
GMII participants shaved all their facial hair Jan. 3 - and Jan. 10, 11, 17 and 18, worked tables in the cafeteria at Manchester College during lunch and dinner.
On Jan. 16 from 6:29 to 8:29 p.m., participants went door-to-door in North Manchester explaining their cause and accepting donations.
They will collect final donations for the Firehouse and pose for a "scruffy" picture Wednesday, before their "scruff" is shaved clean.
Two prizes will be given away to the participant who collects the most money and to the participant who most resembles a "gorilla," the press release stated. A vote will be taken by floor members to determine the awards. Prizes include $25 gift certificates.
There's still time to donate to the Scruff-A-Thon. Anyone interested in donating should contact Jim Butler via e-mail at salttruck@hotmail.com
