Over the winter break, the University of Lynchburg’s Bonner Leaders went to western North Carolina to assist in relief efforts that have been ongoing since Hurricane Helene struck the Southeastern U.S. in September 2024.
More specifically, the group went to Mars Hill, North Carolina, home of Mars Hill University.
“We chose Mars Hill because it’s a fellow Bonner school, and we knew they would connect us to meaningful work in the community,” said Tasha Gillum, Lynchburg’s director of leadership development.
Over a week, Jan. 14-18, the group worked at Marshall High Studios, in the nearby town of Marshall. They restored hardwood floors at the 100-year-old former schoolhouse, which now serves the community as a working arts studio.
“For Bonner, most of our work is in the Lynchburg community, but we take this trip to explore an issue in another community to compare and learn from a different community,” Gillum said. “This expands students’ perspectives and understanding of how responding to an issue can be nuanced and unique to each community.
“This trip in particular, we discussed what it looked like to show up to serve with humility.”
While Lynchburg’s Bonners traditionally travel somewhere new each winter break, Gillum would like to return to Mars Hill. “It’s been tradition for us to travel somewhere new each year, and I’ve been trying to move away from that for several reasons,” she said.
“I’m excited that Mars Hill is a location we can return to in the future, to develop a long-term relationship and be part of change over time.
“Even though it’s mostly … our first-year students that go on the trip, because Bonner is a four-year cohort model, this year’s first-year cohort will be eager to get a report from the 2025-26 first-years about their experience and how the community needs have evolved in just one year.”
