EUGENE, Ore. (KMTR) – Giving back to the community by sprucing up a Eugene apartment complex, a collaboration effort on Sunday by volunteers from across the U.S. About 40 people spent Sunday, February 19th, 2012, sprucing up and cleaning around St. Vincent de Paul's “Oakwood Manor” apartment complex in west Eugene.
Volunteers involved in Sunday's project came from the University of Oregon School of Law's “Public Interest, Public Service” program, but also the Pat Tillman Foundation's Scholar's Program.
The Tillman Scholars spent the weekend in Eugene as part of a leadership and networking conference.
(Read more about the conference at the following link: http://www.kmtr.com/news/local/story/Scholars-continue-Pat-Tillmans-legacy-in-Eugene/PEJ_hKX2-EuXz3y7TtvDyw.cspx.)
Oregon is home to seven Tillman Scholars. As part of the scholarship program for servicemen and women and their families, Tillman Scholars organize community service and leadership projects to help local causes.
The Oakwood Mannor apartment complex helps house low income families in Eugene and needed some work in the yard and in common areas.
“When you're in the Navy, you learn about leadership and serving, Army same thing and the Marines, Air Force. But, to be able to group together with similar minded people and have an opportunity to use those commitment to service and leadership skills to do something for other people is what its all about.,” says Jeff Meray, a UO Law Students and Tillman Scholar.
Volunteers spent Sunday helping paint a couple laundry rooms and a common room at the apartment complex. Outside, volunteers helped pull weeds and lay bark mulch in vegetation areas and on playgrounds.
