Notre Dame students help out at CommUniversity Day

SOUTH BEND — Notre Dame students were getting their hands dirty Saturday. The University hosted CommUniversity Day. It was an opportunity for students to participate in dozens of different service projects throughout the area. Notre Dame Sophomore Austin Holler was one of more than 700 students who were getting involved Saturday. He was going door to door collecting donations for the food bank. Holler participated CommUniversity Day. "We describe it as a day of building relationships, fellowships and partnership in the community," says Rachel Roseberry a Junior at Notre Dame and the event co-director. CommUniversity Day brought together hundreds of Notre Dame students and members of the local community for service projects -- from collecting donations, to helping restore a historical landmark, to beautifying the neighborhood. There were 37 different projects on the to-do list for students. "Hoping to teach some students about where they live and hoping to teach some community members a little bit about Notre Dame students. Maybe a side they haven't seen before," says Denise Baron, a Senior Notre Dame student and the event co-director. South Bend officials say projects like this help to make the community a better place, and help grow the partnership between the City and the University. "That that many students are interested in working with others says a lot for our future, doesn't it," says Ann Puzzello, a South Bend City Council Member. This is the 2nd year for CommUniversity Day and organizers hope the number of students getting involved grows larger. "The message is we have a great community. And the Notre Dame students and the community members want to work together to better that," says Roseberry. The event was sponsored by the Notre Dame Student Government and the University's Center for Social Concerns.