Beth Auger Day of Service Returns

The Beth Auger Day of Service is an opportunity for the Saint Joseph’s community to live out its core value of compassion by reaching beyond the College’s boundaries and serving the wider community. Saint Joseph’s employees volunteer their time for either a morning or an afternoon shift (or both) to serve at one of several service sites. Unfortunately, due to the onset of COVID-19, in-person service was not possible last year. Rather, we asked you to consider financially supporting agencies with whom we have partnered in the past. This year, we are happy to announce that the Beth Auger Day of Service returns with a focus on outdoor service sites to ensure as much safety as possible, particularly with regard to ventilation and social distancing.

Because service with compassion is one of our core values, the Day of Service is always scheduled on work day (Friday, May 28). It is not an add on to our work; it is part of the work that we do as a community for the community. As a first step, we ask you to sign up for one of two shifts (click here for signup form). Each office will coordinate to make sure that there is coverage while others are at their service sites.

The continued presence of COVID-19 does require that we make some changes from past years. To avoid congregations, we will not gather as a community on campus before going to our service sites, we will not be providing breakfast or lunch, and we cannot provide transportation. Volunteers will have to transport themselves to their locations. Our hope is that next year we can restore these valued parts of this tradition. Nonetheless, we hope that you can join us this year to honor the spirit of this day which is service and honoring the memory of a beloved SJC community member.

Who was Beth Auger?

Dr. Elizabeth “Beth” Auger, PhD was a teacher, mentor, colleague and friend across our Saint Joseph’s College community for over 20 years. Following her death in April 2017, the College named the Day of Service in her memory and honor. We are proud and grateful to carry on the spirit of Dr. Auger with the Day of Service.

In addition to serving as an assistant professor of biology and chemistry, she was present, available, and dedicated to her students, her colleagues and the Saint Joseph’s community. Dr. Auger was a loving pet owner and enjoyed reading, basket weaving, knitting, needlework and collecting owl trinkets.