CCU's international students perform service work

A group of 30 Coastal Carolina University’s international students recently helped community children with shopping sprees on Aug. 14 and 16 at the Carolina Forest Walmart and at Coastal Grand Mall’s Payless Shoes. The shopping was coordinated by the Rotaract Club of CCU and Carolina Forest Sunrise Rotarians.

CCU students filled shopping carts with $2,800 worth of socks, shirts, slacks and jackets for children in need attending Waccamaw Elementary School.

The two Rotary community projects -- Clothing Closet and Happy Feet -- are designed to serve the needs of community youth. Both projects were conducted with the cooperation of local businesses and funded by Rotary Club of Carolina Forest Sunrise funds generated through various yearlong events.

"It was the first time many international students had ever shopped in a Wal-Mart store, which was great fun for us to see,” said Rotarian Porter Medley, director of CCU’s conference services. “We had shopping lists, and they shopped styles and colors new to them."

"This year's Happy Feet project served 74 pupils, and $1,400 of Rotary funds were used to buy what some youngsters described as their first pair of new shoes, and not hand-me-downs. There were many happy faces and happy feet in the store today,” said Rotarian Peter Loverso.