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A group of 70 student volunteers descended on Brockville on Saturday, gardening, painting and baking their way into the hearts of residents.
The day working in the community was in honour of Michael Laufiso, who died recently aged 48, who lived, grew up and helped out with community groups in the suburb.
The event brought together UniCrew, Otago University Students’ Association and Otago Response Team volunteers with Brockville Neighbourhood (Dunedin) to work in the suburb.
University of Otago Volunteer Centre co-ordinator Sze-En Watts said it had always been on the cards to organise a volunteer community day out.
"This is the first one we’ve organised through UniCrew volunteers.‘‘We’re really excited to have Brockville as our first host community."
Mrs Watts said she hoped it would not be the last, as "this is just the beginning of our friendship with Brockville".
"I’ve always known Brockville has a really strong community spirit," Mrs Watts said.
"I know they do a lot in the community already to support each other.
"In admiration of their community spirit we thought we would come and join in."
The group also hoped to use the same approach and connect with other communities in Dunedin.
Mrs Watts said she had worked with Mr Laufiso through her role as volunteer co-ordinator, and his role as community adviser at the Dunedin City Council.
"He would have just loved and supported an event like this.
"It just felt really right."
She said volunteers had worked in a community garden, baked items to take to the Little Sisters of the Poor Sacred Heart Home and Hospital, gardened and painted fences at the community church and worked on four backyard gardens, transforming them from lawn to productive gardens.