After she went away to college, Ashley Davis did what thousands of other college-aged young women do.

She socialized, studied hard and joined a sorority.

Fortunately, that wasn’t enough for Davis. Soon after joining her sorority, she stepped up and took a leadership role, coordinating the sorority’s Angel Tree work with the Salvation Army. For Davis, who has since returned to her hometown in Selma, it was just what she needed to do.

“It makes me feel good to help others,” she said. “I think that’s an important thing to do.”

While she’s graduated college, Davis hasn’t stopped helping others.

She’s recently been selected to serve on the Selma Habitat for Humanity Board, and coordinated another Angel Tree project.

For Davis, it’s just a continuation of a life filled with service.

The 24-year-old has been involved with the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Project, Habitat for Humanity and several mission trips with her church.

“It’s been wonderful,” she said. Davis said that the experience offers more tangible benefits as well.

“I had no idea how to do any of that,” she said of building homes with Habitat. “But, I was doing stucco and up on that roof, that was a really neat thing as well.”

Still, for Davis, the biggest benefit is reaching out and connecting to others.

“I think everybody has certain gifts,” she said. “I think mine is the gift of encouragement. I think it’s great that you can build a house or read to (children, but) that connection, it’s wonderful.”