MBU’s Service Day is dedicated to bringing together faculty, staff and students to demonstrate the grace and mercy of Christ by serving others. The MBU community had the opportunity to package meals for Meals for a Million to feed families in need throughout Missouri, stuff bears for hospitalized children with Sharing Smiles and donate their lightly used shoes to the less fortunate in Haiti.
Photos by Dylan White
Lindsey Peters, founder of the charity Sharing Smiles, talks to fellow MBU students while making a stuffed bear. Peters began Sharing Smiles in 2008 when she was 8 years old to spread the joy of God to children in local hospitals. Click on the photos in the gallery to see larger images.
MBU students had the opportunity to work with Sharing Smiles, an organization that has appeared at previous service days.
Andrea Robb, director of spirit and community engagement, joins the assembly line for Sharing Smiles and talks to students.
MBU students were involved with every step of the bear making process: tracing the patterns, cutting the fabric and stuffing the bears.
Sharing Smiles bears are crafted in stages. First, the bear’s fabric must be cut into the correct shape.
Kelsey Hall, MBU athletic trainer, works alongside students at the cutting station.
A plastic bin filled with completed bears ready to join the others for delivery to hospitals.
Autumn Heaton, left, and Audrey Frost, right, carefully cut out the stenciled bear shape.
Students were able to receive free Chick-fil-A sandwiches after participating in service day activities.
Emily Carter, right, socializes with the volunteers working at the Chick-fil-A table.
Completed meals moving through the line for Meals for a Million.
Students followed a particular protocol to properly assemble the meals for packaging, adding different elements in proper quantities and ensuring the package was the proper weight.
Students use a press to seal the packages full of rice, nutrients and other ingredients.
According to Meals for a Million’s website, each package MBU students finished provides a complete meal for six children, or four adults.
Cherith Laubinger, left, Luke Little, center, and Michaela Remper, right, load rice into large bins to distribute to students for packing.
A student packs one of many boxes filled during the day for families in need across the St. Louis region.
MBU students had the chance to write encouraging letters to missionaries in Haiti and commit to praying over them for a month.
Finished letters offering encouragement written for missionaries in Haiti.
MBU’s Office of Faith and Service accepted donations of lightly used shoes to send to children in need in Haiti.
J. Dylan White is Managing Editor for MBU Timeline. White is a broadcast media major with a journalism and English double minor. He is a member of the MBU Jazz, Concert and Pep bands, and he works in MBU’s Records Office. After graduating, White plans to pursue a career in journalism, whether in print or broadcast.
Photos by Dylan White
Kate Goodberlet 
Isabel Rinkenberger 
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