Waxahachie, TX
November 14, 2018 | Mikayla Heldt
Over 100 Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) students, faculty and staff participated in various service projects around the city of Waxahachie for this year’s Make a Difference Day (MADD) .
“Whenever you get to serve something that doesn’t immediately impact you, I think that just proves that you genuinely care about other people,” says Aaron Guajardo, Assistant Dean of Students.
This past Friday, SAGU volunteers were split into groups and assigned to a multitude of tasks in the community, ranging from park playgrounds to the Historic Square in downtown Waxahachie.
Some groups contributed to two service projects for the Waxahachie Parks and Recreation Department, while others helped paint playground equipment and cleaned up the parks in the area, such as A&F Thompson Park and Getzendaner Park. In addition, volunteers went to downtown Waxahachie to clean up the Square and clean windows for all the local businesses.
“When you put other people’s needs in front of yours, that just helps unite everybody,” Guajardo says. 
MADD is a nationally celebrated event, but the experience left a lasting impression on many of the residents of this north Texas area. According to Bridges Dorm Pastor Josh Travieso, the SAGU volunteers gave their time and energy to love on the community, and people were very receptive to it.
“It’s opening more doors the more and more that we come out to the community,” Trevieso says.
He enjoyed serving the community with the rest of the volunteers and looks forward to seeing how many SAGU students, faculty and staff participate in next year’s MADD.
“It’s about just creating a buzz, knowing that there’s a university that cares about the community and [wants] to come to make a difference.”
Southwestern Assemblies of God University is a private, Christian university located 30 minutes south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Waxahachie, Texas. The university was established in 1927, and now offers more than 70 associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees on campus or online. More information is available at www.sagu.edu
