Salem State First-Year Students Volunteer Across 6 North Shore Communities

SALEM, MA — Salem State University sent 165 incoming first-year students across the North Shore on Friday for its 11th annual First Year Day of Service, with volunteers assigned to 22 projects in Salem, Lynn, Peabody, Beverly, Danvers and Marblehead.

The program is held the Friday before Convocation each year and gives new students a chance to move onto campus early and begin their time at Salem State through community service.

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The event expanded this year with three more projects than in 2025. Marblehead was added as a new community, bringing the total number of communities reached to six.

"This morning, more than 160 of you will head into six communities across the North Shore to support 22 projects that address 14 important community issues," University President John Keenan told volunteers. "That is impact, leadership, and what it means to be a Viking."

Keenan also told students that civic engagement is "not just a value" at Salem State. "It is a way of life."

Projects ranged from packing and organizing work to food service, school support and animal shelter cleanup.

On campus, students worked with Salem-based mental health advocacy group Mental Makeover, assembling "Understanding Emotion" boxes for children in grades K-5 and "World Needs You Here" support boxes for people in crisis.

Other Salem projects included Lifebridge North Shore, NAGLY and the Sarah Parker Remond School. In Lynn, students supported Girls Inc., Leo, Inc. and My Brother's Table.

"The Table loves it when Salem State students volunteer," said Dianne Kuzia Hills, executive director of My Brother's Table. "They bring youthful energy and eagerness to help, and they get a lot done."

Students also worked at PALS Animal Life Savers and Citizens Inn in Peabody, Beverly Bootstraps in Beverly, Northeast Arc in Danvers and the Marblehead Animal Shelter.

"We are incredibly grateful that they want to make the shelter a welcoming and comfortable space for the people we serve," said Sharman Pollender, a volunteer who helps to manage the Marblehead shelter.

The program is co-led by Katelyn Adams, associate director of Salem State's Center for Civic Engagement, and Mathew Chetnik, assistant dean of student success and the First Year Experience department.