Buenafication Day, one of the biggest days of the year for Buena Vista University, shows what can happen when the students and faculty come together to serve their community. Originally, starting as “Hobo Day” where students would beg for money, now it has become a city-wide event to give back to the community. Students get together with their organizations on campus and around Storm Lake completing service projects such as packing food for the local food pantry, cleaning up the golf course, and more.  

     Last year, students would be sent home before Buenafication Day due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. For two years of BVU students this will be their first. This year, the morning activities for Buenafication Day looked a little different on campus from previous years. “We’ve had to get a little bit more creative with the types of things we can do,” Erica Swanson said, the Assistant Director of Campus Activities & Leadership at Buena Vista University. For example, the Student Activities Board (SAB) made dog toys out of old recycled homecoming t-shirts. Among other service activities on campus were bandage rolling for Global Health Ministries and packing literacy, hygiene, and pet adoption kits.   

     With many more things happening all over campus, it is easy for students to stay involved all day long. More information on Buenafication Day can be found on BVU’s website at www.bvu.edu/buenafication.