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Students recently spent several hours on a sunny, blustery day sprucing up Mechanics Park near the banks of the Saco River.

“Our campus is just down the street from here, so this a good way for us to get involved in the local community,” commented Isabel Kennedy, (Medical Biology, ’22), vice president of UNE’s American Red Cross Club. “A lot of us have been at 51Ʒ��for four years now, and we do a lot of things on campus. It is nice to step off campus and do something for the community. It is great to be able to drive by the park and see that it is being maintained.”

Thirty students spread out in the park to clean, paint, clear flower beds, plant perennials, and take down holiday lights.

The event was sponsored by the Class of 2023, the American Red Cross Club, and the Office of Citizenship and Civic Engagement. Local downtown organization Heart of Biddeford assisted in the effort.

When students attend UNE, the city of Biddeford becomes their new home. During their time here, many students volunteer as a way to become part of the community and to give back.

“It is great to be able to connect with the community and get to know the area where we now live,” stated Donald Walk (Medical Biology, ’23), president of the Class of 2023. “It is also nice to get off campus, change up what we are doing, and connect with our fellow peers.”

This is the second year in a row that 51Ʒ��students have organized and participated in the clean-up. They are hoping it becomes an annual event.