HPU’s Chapel Community Donates $5,000 to West End Ministries

HPU students, faculty and community members donated different items to the auction, from spa gift cards and baskets to a fun-filled cooler of HPU apparel.

HIGH POINT, N.C., June 23, 2021 – High Point University students continually support the local community, even in the midst of a pandemic. This spring, HPU’s Hayworth Chapel Board of Stewards raised a total of $5,000 for West End Ministries.

The HPU Chapel community hosted a Silent Auction, which raised nearly $2,000 for West End Ministries. The Board of Stewards, the student leadership of Hayworth Chapel, then donated an additional $3,000 collected as part of the spring offering.

The donation reflects how the HPU Board of Stewards has worked with West End Ministries over the years in various ways.

“The Silent Auction that the High Point University Chapel Office put together was innovative and life-changing,” says Sophie Carter, Board of Stewards president. “I felt that this event was creative and effective in a time that was challenging for a lot of people who still wanted to make a positive impact on their community. I’m so proud that HPU was able to be such a light during this academic year even when everything else seemed dim.”

Student leaders in the HPU Chapel community led the way by collecting items for bidding and running the week-long silent auction.

“West End Ministries is grateful for all the help High Point University does through the Board of Stewards,” says Brad Bowers, executive director of West End Ministries. “This is an event we look forward to every year that helps out the High Point community in many ways.”

Courtney Smith, a member of the Board of Stewards, says the group collected different auction items, from gift baskets donated by Greek organizations on campus, to a stay at the Grandover Resort. Faculty also donated artwork and other pieces

“When planning this event, we wanted to make sure it was a campus-wide service opportunity. With the help from students, faculty, and the community, we did just that,” says Smith. “This was truly a wonderful showing of the HPU community coming together to help out those in need.”

“The students in the Chapel community are utterly inspiring,” says Preston Davis, minister to the university. “With the inability to serve with hands and feet during the pandemic, they used their imaginations. Running a silent auction on behalf of West End Ministries brought together partners from across the Piedmont Triad.”