Grand Valley supports veterans through service projects

November 12, 2024 (Volume 48, Number 6)
Article by Annie Pettit

large group of people standing in front of Michigan Veteran Homes at Grand Rapids

person with baseball cap on backwards cleans a grave marker, American flag in front in the ground

A team of 65 Lakers volunteered to clean the grounds at the Michigan Veteran Homes at Grand Rapids in late October.

A team of 65 Grand Valley students, alumni, faculty and staff spent October 25 sprucing up the Michigan Veteran Homes at Grand Rapids.

Service projects included cleaning grave markers in the cemetery, raking leaves, decorating for a haunted house and planting flower bulbs across the campus.

Neal Buckwalter, associate professor of public administration, helped organize this event with the Michigan Veteran Homes and Michigan Cares for Tourism, the nonprofit organization founded by Patty Janes, professor of hospitality and tourism management.

Buckwalter said the aim for involving the Laker community was to help build an identity for the newly formed School of Community Leadership.

“We are proud of the work we did with the Michigan Veteran Homes at Grand Rapids,” Buckwalter said. “It felt good to give some small service back to those who have given so much in service to so many.”