More than 300 Hampden-Sydney College (H-SC) freshmen participated in “Tigers Serve” projects over the weekend through community service projects across Prince Edward County.

According to Sandy Cooke, H-SC’s director of student affairs operations and civic engagement, the projects included picking up litter along many roadways and volunteering at the FACES Food Pantry, BrightEyes Alpaca Farm, The Southside Virginia Family YMCA, Twin Lakes State Park and The Woodland.

Cooke said the community was very appreciative of the work H-SC students do during the Tigers Serve projects and throughout the year.

“They see us in our H-SC Tiger Serve T-shirts and want to thank us,” Cooke said. “It is a wonderful feeling giving back to the community and teaching our students how to be a good men and good citizens.”

FACES Director and USDA Manager Sheila Hight said as the men volunteered at FACES, she offered a lesson on what the nonprofit does in efforts for them to understand that what they were doing was “very much appreciated.”

Students helped clean and tidy the FACES building, assisting with outside weeding and cleaning. The students also cleaned and de-iced freezers.

Ryan Tomlin, a resident advisor and sophomore at H-SC, said he thought the projects were “really good for the community.”

Students also volunteered at the Longwood Center for Visual Arts (LCVA).

Emily Grabiec, LCVA’s director of education and outreach, said students helped out with setting up for the 2017 Día de los Muertos Free Family Workshop, which will take place Oct. 28.

“They’re helping make a traditional sugar skull, which is part of a Dia de los Muertos celebration,” Grabiec said.

She said usually around 300 people come to the workshop and usually get at least one or two sugar skulls.

“So it takes a lot of time to make those sugar skulls, so they’re helping us get ready for that,” Grabiec said.

H-SC freshman Harrison Hanes said he enjoyed helping the community and “making Farmville a better place. …”