Seniors Hailey Catich, left, and Lauren Limpin help clean the yard of Vicki Carradus in Davenport. St. Ambrose University held its annual Bee the Difference Day Nov. 7.
By Anne Marie Amacher
The Catholic Messenger
DAVENPORT — More than 300 students, faculty and staff from St. Ambrose University gave their time Nov. 7 to make a difference in the school’s neighborhood. The annual Bee the Difference Day was back this year to help neighbors around the campus with their fall cleanup.
Participants of the event, organized by the Student Government Association, met at noon outside the Wellness and Recreation Center, then headed out on foot to meet homeowners who signed up for assistance. Students raked and bagged leaves, trimmed bushes and branches and picked up twigs at more than 80 homes. “We are uniting as the SAU community to go out and meet, assist and thank our campus neighbors,” said Bee the Difference Day director Samantha Sancen.
Senior Sabreena Hartman participated in Bee the Difference Day her freshman year and recruited her boyfriend and several fellow health sciences students to join her this year. Hartman said she participated in fall cleanups at home in Chadwick, Illinois. A nursing student, she said her job is to care for others. That includes helping in a variety of ways.
She said helping people who need assistance whether due to health or age generates good feelings for the helpers and recipients. For the students, it is getting out and helping clean up and for the neighbors it is having a clean yard. At least for a while, since the leaves are still falling.
Junior Denver Hoffert of Lincoln, Illinois, is a master of criminal justice student and Hartman’s boyfriend. “She asked me and I came along. It is nice to help others.” Seniors Lauren Limpin and Hailey Catich said Hartman’s invitation made a difference to them. “It’s a nice day. It’s fun to help out the homeowners,” they said.
Homeowner Vicki Carradus has been at her home near St. Ambrose for 40 years. Students have helped her and her husband from the start of Bee the Difference Day. “The students are great and we have fun. With health issues coming up with us, we really appreciate the help.”
The Student Government Association introduced Bee the Difference Day in 2006, which has been held each fall except for 2020 due to the pandemic. The make-up date for that event was in April 2021.
