Notre Dame is dedicated to being a force for good, and through this value that drives us, many departments and student groups often devote time, people, and resources to serving our community and leaving the world better than we found it.

Since 2021, Notre Dame’s Sustainability Office and Notre Dame Global (NDG) have promoted a Global Day of Action each fall and spring in honor of St. Francis of Assisi and Laudato Si’. On these days, NDG and Sustainability called upon the Notre Dame community across the globe to practice caring for our common home through events like campus clean-ups, educational lectures, the creation of a sustainability fellows program, engagement with community organizations, and tree planting. Notre Dame students, alumni, parents, and friends around the world are encouraged to serve their communities in any capacity possible, from litter pick-ups to rescuing and donating food.

Once again, NDG and Sustainability are teaming up alongside Student Government to host the fall Global Day of Action to broaden Notre Dame’s reach of service acts and strengthen our community, both on campus and around the globe. “We encourage everyone in the Notre Dame family to take part in the Global Day of Action each spring and fall. When it comes to caring for our common home, each of our efforts, no matter how big or small, are integral to truly making a difference,” says Eimear Clowry Delaney, Director of Notre Dame Dublin and Climate Ambassador with the National Trust for Ireland.

Although Global Day of Action traditionally falls on a Wednesday, the Notre Dame community is encouraged to take part in an event anytime between September 30th through October 6th. Consider how you can make a difference in your community by engaging in a service act—every individual has impact. “The move toward a more sustainable future will be driven by a patchwork of actions across all scales—from the individual to the international. Sustainability flourishes in the collective efforts of many, and your local community is an excellent place to start,” says Bennett Schmitt, Sustainability Director for Undergraduate Student Government.

If you’re in the South Bend area, some service events happening in honor of the Global Day of Action include the native pollinator bed clean-up at the Sculpture Park on October 2, a prayer vigil and feast on October 3, and NDG is partnering with URC Refugee Resettlement in support of welcoming refugee families to our community. You can also create your own service event and submit it to be added to the running list of events. If you participate in a service project, be sure to take photos and videos, and share them with NDG and Sustainability using the hashtag #NDGlobalDayofAction.

Originally published by Olivia Farrington at green.nd.edu on September 27, 2024.