a group photo of four people standing outside of the NH Food bank
two women wearing gloves and Global Days of Service hats examining a piece of trash found on the beach
group photo of two men wearing matching pink Global Days of Service shirts and a woman in front of a chalkboard

A World of Difference
Global Days of Service Celebrates 10 Years

group photo of Global Days of Service members
man wearing blue Global Days of Service shirt smiling at the beach
BY KATIE DUGAN ’20G
In 2016, a simple yet powerful idea took root: what if the SNHU community gathered in the name of service? Over the years, that idea blossomed into a global movement, uniting individuals in a shared mission. As SNHU celebrates its 10th year of Global Days of Service this spring, we reflect on the countless impacts—and connections—that have been made in the name of giving back.
Allison Nichols and her two kids helping organize toys at the Salvation Army Toy Shop
SNHU employee Allison Nichols made supporting the Salvation Army Toy Shop in 2015 a family affair.

Roots Before Branches

SNHU Global Days of Service (GDS), as it is known today, is a two-month-long community service initiative, where alumni, students, faculty, and staff come together across the globe to strengthen their communities. 

Service has been a cornerstone of SNHU’s history. One of the first student clubs established at the New Hampshire Accounting and Secretarial School was a fundraising-focused group, the March of Dimes Club. In 2005, Dr. Paul LeBlanc established The Center for Community Engaged Learning, an office dedicated to connecting students with service opportunities, now known as The Chandler Center. As that center grew and programming expanded over the years, many students saw community engagement as an integral part of their SNHU experience.  

In 2015, there was an opportunity for local alumni to engage with campus-based students on an Alternative Break trip to New Orleans. This coincided with an increased interest in community service events for alumni and current students, both on campus and online. Eager to explore ways to intentionally connect the SNHU community, Sara Telfer, director of Alumni Engagement, shared the concept of a university-wide community service event with colleagues from Online Engagement (now the Office of Student Involvement) and Center for Community Engaged Learning. Tiff Fifer ’00 and Elizabeth Richards were quick to embrace the idea. 

“I remember meeting with her in the coffee shop on campus when she said, ‘So I have this idea, and I want to know if you think we could pull it off,’ and then she told me about Global Days of Service,” said Elizabeth Richards, assistant vice president of The Chandler Center. “I loved it immediately. It was bold and ambitious and exciting.” 

With the blessing and support of her colleagues, Sara set a goal of 10 projects to take place that April, tapping on SNHU community members to spearhead each. 

Alumna Danielle Dalton ’12 ’16G was a remote employee based in California when she first learned about Global Days of Service. Being new to the area, Danielle was eager to take part and find community. 

The first year was successful, with a goal-exceeding 15 service projects taking place, each organized by alumni, employees, and students from online and campus programs.  

“Global Days of Service was well received, and we all agreed that it should continue annually,” Sara said. “We have tweaked our approach since then, but the root of Global Days of Service is evident in how it still continues to operate today.” 

That same year, SNHU launched the Volunteer Time Off (VTO) program for its employees. Recognizing the importance of serving the communities in which we live and work, staff and faculty could take up to eight hours off annually to volunteer at a nonprofit organization of their choosing. Since then, many employees utilize their VTO time to participate in Global Days of Service projects with their colleagues across the country. 

Sara Telfer and her son smiling while planting yellow flowers in front of a brick building
Sara Telfer and her son planting flowers during Greek Day of Service 2019.
Chantel Wolters and Hayley Grenier holding paint rollers and smiling for a photo
Site leaders Chantel Wolters ’18G and Hayley Grenier ’15MEd pausing their painting at Joppa Hill Farm Spring Cleanup in 2024.

Growth in Numbers

With Global Days of Service now two months long, Sara and a collaborative planning team have worked to expand access and the types of service projects. Volunteers have the option to lead a service project in their local area, join an existing project, or share their story of service they’ve done on their own.  

In March 2020, the 5th year of Global Days of Service came to a halt when precautionary measures were taken due to the COVID-19 virus. In-person gatherings were discouraged, which meant that projects could not safely take place.  

Faced with the challenge of shifting to a virtual experience, the planning committee expanded the month-long event to span four months in 2021, offering flexibility and more opportunities to engage.  

Each month focused on a different societal issue: hunger, shelter, environmental justice, and the pandemic’s essential workers. Virtual educational sessions and do-it-yourself (DIY) projects were offered in tandem, related to that month’s theme. 

DIY opportunities included projects like the SleepOut movement, where volunteers could experience sleeping outside and have meaningful conversations about shelter and homelessness. After seeing a positive response to the DIY projects, the planning committee has continued to offer them as part of Global Days of Service. 

“I think it was meaningful to folks who were stuck at home during that time to still be able to take part. It’s become a flexible program in terms of the different ways people can participate,” Sara said.

“Global Days of Service allowed me to connect with people in the Bay Area that I wouldn’t have otherwise. When the service project day came around, I knew I had at least one thing in common with the volunteers—being a part of SNHU,” Danielle said.  

Evergreen Connections

Since 2016, Danielle has continued to lead Global Days of Service projects each year, gaining the unique perspective of witnessing the program’s growth year after year.

“Every year my involvement has looked a little different, but the spirit of building relationships with other members of the SNHU community remains steadfast,” Danielle said. “Being able to support organizations that help others is always something that I will prioritize and look forward to.” 

Sara believes that taking part in service is an equalizer. “Everybody is there for the same reason, to do something beneficial for their community,” Sara said. “We hoped people would feel like it was accessible to them no matter how they fit into the larger picture.” 

Global Days of Service wraps up at the end of April. As service hours are tallied, beaches are clean, and food gardens planted, something else continues to bloom at SNHU—lifelong connections. To Sara, the framework of GDS allows for participants to make meaningful connections in the name of service—and drives the enthusiasm seen in volunteers year after year. Since 2016, more than 52,000 hours can be attributed to SNHU Global Days of Service, from cleaning up beaches in Hawaii, to gathering supplies for a refugee camp in Rwanda, and chopping firewood in Maine. 

“Sara has never wavered from her vision and has stayed committed to the idea that serving others is a great way to bring a community together,” said Elizabeth. 

The impact of Global Days of Service on the SNHU community, and beyond, is undeniable and is made possible thanks to the collective dedication of all involved. This spirit of collaboration and community is forever etched in the foundation of Global Days of Service.  

Global Days of Service 2025 takes place throughout March and April. Visit alumni.snhu.edu/serve to make this our most impactful year yet! 

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