Centenary students take ‘Community Plunge’ at Bristol Glen

Posted: Aug 31, 2015 11:05 PM EDT njherald.com

By DAVID DANZIS

Centenary College students, as part of its annual Community Plunge, spent a day doing community service and improving community relations in Sussex County and the surrounding area, including a special stop at Bristol Glen in Newton.

The senior living facility was the host to first-year students of Centenary College as part of an ongoing education process that includes community service in its cirriculum. In 1990, Centenary became the first higher education institution in New Jersey to include community service as part of a cirriculum.

In addition to Bristol Glen, Community Plunge went to several locations in Warren and Sussex counties, including America’s Grow-A-Row in Pittstown, ARC of Warren County and NORWESCAP Food Bank in Phillipsburg, Centenary Equestrian Center in Long Valley, Easter Seals in Blairstown and Hackettstown, Fisherman’s Mark in Lambertville, the Main Street business district in Hackettstown, Lord Sterling Stables in Basking Ridge, Mane Stream Stables in Oldwick, Matheny Medical and Educational Center and the United States Equestrian Team Foundation in Gladstone, Poplar Wood Farm in Port Murray, Trinity United Methodist Church in Hackettstown and Warren Haven Nursing Home in Oxford.

“Community Plunge is an exciting and fulfilling program for all involved,” says Lindsay Smith, Interim Director of Programming and Service at Centenary College. “It promotes good will with local organizations and exposes our students to different resources and opportunities. For those who have not been involved with volunteerism in the past, it will also introduce them to the benefits of community service.”

The students organzied games, played music and ate lunch outside with the residents of Bristol Glen during their visit on Monday.