Alumni News: Days of Service

Alumni serve communities with Pirate pride

By Patricia Earnhardt Tyndall

The far-reaching impact of East Carolina University alumni coming together to serve is an example of how alumni are living the university’s motto – Servire. This spring, Pirates across the country participated in ECU Alumni Days of Service, volunteering on more than two dozen projects.

The ECU Alumni Association (ECUAA) hosted its third Days of Service initiative to encourage service and community involvement. ECUAA Senior Director of Alumni Engagement Meghan Woolard ’11 said more than 490 people participated in 1,223 volunteer hours. 

“ECU Alumni Days of Service provides a meaningful opportunity for Pirates to live out ECU’s mission of service long after graduation,” Woolard said. “This collective service brought alumni together to make a positive impact in their local communities while strengthening their connection to the university and one another.”

Woolard set a goal for ECUAA to complete 25 service projects in 2026. Through Days of Service, 26 projects were completed.

“One of my biggest points of pride is the level of participation and enthusiasm shown by our regional chapters,” she said. “Sixteen of our 18 regional chapters organized service projects this year, bringing hundreds of alumni, family members and friends together in support of causes that matter in their communities.”

The Alumni Association also organized events on campus and in Greenville where faculty, staff and local alumni could volunteer. As part of their service, volunteers bagged sweet potatoes and Capri Suns, contributing to 7,624 meals at the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina and held a clothing drive for the College of Health & Human Performance Professionally Purple Closet.

“Service has always been a core part of the ECU experience. Pirates are passionate about giving back, supporting others, and making a difference,” Woolard said. “Participating in Days of Service gives all of us a tangible way to continue that tradition. It allows us to unite around a shared purpose and showcase the values that make Pirate Nation special.”

Pirates served meals, assembled meal kits, held beach and greenway clean ups, raised funds for scholarships in the Pirate Nurse 5K and crafted greeting cards for homebound individuals. This year’s service projects provided an estimated economic impact of $42,540.57.

Caring for Families

Ken Whitehurst ’92, the Eastern North Carolina chapter president, led 10 volunteers who provided lunch for residents and families at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern North Carolina in Greenville. 

“Community service is one of the main goals of our local chapter,” Whitehurst said. “While gathering for social events, networking and viewing parties is fun, it is an honor and a privilege to be able to give back to our community and represent ECU.”

Whitehurst said the chapter chose the Ronald McDonald House to support families facing a difficult experience while being away from home for an extended period.  
Chapter volunteers also spent several hours helping the facility’s staff rearrange and reorganize the food pantry and supply area.

“The project to help reorganize the food and supply areas was a specific request from the staff as it had become a bit cluttered and unorganized,” Whitehurst said. “Our efforts were focused on helping the staff be able to locate and distribute items to house residents and their families as needed more effectively.”

Supporting Veterans

Alumni volunteers with ECUAA’s Triad chapter completed a two-part service project at Open Door Ministries of High Point. The organization focuses on supporting homeless veterans. 

ECU alumni held a canned food drive and completed service projects at the organization’s main location. Volunteers picked up trash, cleaned the building and put down pavers to create a sidewalk at a satellite site. 

Taylor Steed ’15, the Triad chapter events coordinator, said she wanted to showcase that the Triad chapter and alumni group is invested in giving back to the community and coming together to help others. 

“It was important to me to volunteer as part of Alumni Days of Service to give back to my community and serve those in need,” she said. “I think it speaks to our chapter’s dedication to come together not only to celebrate our Pirates but also to showcase acts of kindness. We like to celebrate and have fun, but we also want to make sure we provide meaningful service.”