UGA Staff Member’s Dedication Drives UGA Habitat Day

The University of Georgia Griffin campus values community involvement, and campus events such as the annual Dawg Dash 5K foster camaraderie between the campus and Griffin community.

Volunteers are essential to these events’ success, with faculty, staff and the Griffin community donating their time. David Mann, a research professional at the UGA Center for Food Safety, is a frequent volunteer.

Who is David Mann?

Mann is known as Mr. Do-it-All around the Center for Food Safety. If a lab freezer goes out, the fan needs fixing or you just want to have a good conversation, Mann will always make himself available to help.

“Through my years at UGA, I think I have learned the importance of being kind and helping those around us,” Mann said. With more than 20 years of experience, he seeks to give back to the campus community in any way he can.  

Community Involvement

“When Dr. Jeffrey Dean became campus director, he wanted to increase the Griffin campus’ involvement in the community and created the Griffin Campus Community Network, which I was asked to be a part of,” Mann said. ,“I suggested that we organize a group of UGA volunteers to help with the local Habitat for Humanity.”

Mann and his wife, Amy, have been deeply involved with Habitat for Humanity for more than a year , and he has also volunteer with  the Griffin-Spalding County United Way and Griffin Environmental Council.

The driving factor to community outreach

 “The impactful aspect of working with Habitat is seeing the joy and happiness in the future homeowners when they see their house nearing completion” Mann said.

Keeping balance

Balancing his  role at UGA, volunteering, and family life requires deliberate planning. “All three of these areas are important [to me]. It is also important to understand what you want to accomplish within your lifetime and what impact you want to have on those around you, then strive to focus in that area,” Mann said.

“These three areas will not always be in balance, — maybe you need to spend more time at work for a big project or something at home requires more time and you have to take a pause from volunteering, but just working toward a goal that makes you happy.”

Volunteering for UGA Habitat Day

The University of Georgia Griffin campus will partner with the Griffin/Spalding Habitat for Humanity for UGA Habitat Day on June 7 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. No experience or special skills are required to volunteer. Volunteers can contact David Mann or Amy Mann to learn more participating in the community service event or future events.