More than 400 students scrubbed mats, decorated bags and visited nursing homes yesterday at the fourth annual Homecoming Day of Service, the first major philanthropic event of the homecoming season.

"This is a good way for us to represent Penn State and show our pride by giving back to the community," Associate Vice President of the Panhellenic Council Meaghan Cappelloni said.

Many of the students who participated earned spirit points for their greek organizations, but students from other service organizations, such as the Blue and White Society and Circle K, were also present.

The students who had registered in advance were randomly assigned into the various service groups and sent out to different sites from the initial meeting place at Heritage Hall in the HUB-Robeson Center, Cappelloni said.

About 420 people registered for the day of service in advance, Interfraternity Council's Vice President for homecoming Colby Wesner said.

Based on the numbers, some participants were reassigned to different groups, Wesner said.
The group of students who stayed in the HUB worked on decorating 500 bags for Meals on Wheels recipients, while the largest group of students went to clean the mats that line the floor of the Bryce Jordan Center during the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon.

Allison Gabriel (senior-psychology) said the day of service is an important event because it unites various service organizations for one common goal.

The event sites included several nursing homes and a youth football organization where the students interacted with seniors and children, Wesner said.

The events were chosen by day of service organizers after contacting the Center for Student Engagement to find sites receptive to their cause, Cappelloni said.

Homecoming video captain Nicole Combs was there taking digital photos to include in various homecoming movies. The videos are used during halftime of the Homecoming football game and are also what she called "sorry we can't be there" videos, to represent different homecoming groups.