ENC’s annual encouragement week is this week, Nov. 18-23, and will feature different events each day.
Senior Danielle Wilson, director of student ministries, helped organize the week’s events along with sophomore Elizabeth Aliotta and junior Emily Rees. Aliotta is president of the Loving Hearts of God ministry and Rees leads the Boo Radley Society, a club focused on performing random acts of kindness.
“There is definitely more going on this year,” Wilson said of this year’s encouragement week activities. “We’re a Christian campus. Encouragement week should be just as big or bigger than welcome week.”
The Boo Radley Society and Loving Hearts of God club members are helping out with the weeklong event as well. The Boo Radley Society will be stuffing goody bags to hand out to community members and running the student sign-up sheet for Friday’s and Saturday’s events.
“I’m really looking forward to encouragement week,” Rees said. “I think it’s great that ENC has a time to really contribute to itself and everything that makes it such an amazing place.”
Monday, Nov. 18, is athlete appreciation day. Students can write encouraging notes and grab some candy from 12-1 p.m. in the Mann Student Center. Monday Madness will be held at 9 p.m. in the Lahue PE Center and will feature food, a dunk contest, and prizes.
Tuesday, Nov. 19, is depression awareness day. Free stress balls will be available in Mann from 12-1 p.m., as well as another opportunity to write encouraging notes. A depression seminar with student testimonies will be held in the Ruth A. Cameron Auditorium at 8 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 20, will feature worship art night in Munro Parlor at 9 p.m. Students will have the opportunity to create art, meditate, and take time to relax during the school week.
Thursday, Nov. 21, is spiritual encouragement day. A worship service will be held in Angell Chapel at 9 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 22, is neighborhood appreciation day. Students will have the opportunity to go into the neighborhood around ENC and hand out goody bags to neighbors.
On Friday evening, SGA will provide free T transportation for students who want to go into Boston. Each student will receive one dollar and are encouraged to use that dollar to do a kind deed for a stranger. Students will be leaving at 5 p.m. and meeting up to return to campus at 9 p.m.
“It’s a great opportunity for students to get off campus and enjoy Boston with free transportation,” Wilson said. “If students want to stay later than nine o’clock, they can do that, but they won’t be able to have free transportation back to campus.”
On Saturday, Nov. 23, students can volunteer from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. to help deliver Thanksgiving packages to families in the community via the Quincy Crisis Center. Chapel credit will be available to those who volunteer.
Contact Danielle Wilson with any questions about encouragement week.