Gwynedd-Mercy College
Department of Campus Ministry / Mercy Works

Alternative Spring Break 2012

The Alternative Spring Break (ASB) experience is part of GMC’s commitment to combine education for professional competency with the Mercy tradition of service to society.  College students, faculty and staff who participate in these trips share a desire to serve others, to grow in their Mercy identity and spirituality, and to learn more about poverty and social justice.  Spending time in a different culture and reflecting together on their experience gives our students a deeper understanding of the struggles of people everywhere who are poor and vulnerable, helps them to grow in self-knowledge, and moves them to continue service in their own communities upon their return. 

This year we were delighted to send 26 students on four different ASB trips:  Biloxi, Cincinnati, New Orleans and New York.  See below for trip photos and links to the agencies with whom we served.

Cincinnati, Ohio

One of the things we learned about food security is that SNAP benefits (food stamps) cannot be used for many basic necessities such as household cleaners or personal care products. Here, the students used money they had raised to purchase items they had noticed missing from the shelves of two agencies where we volunteered!

Mercy Neighborhood Ministries

Birthday Party for Seniors

Assembling Monthly Grocery Bags

Bethany House

Dinner is Served

The costume bag provides endless ways
to entertain children while their moms are in group meeting!

The Caring Place

Filipe and Rachel made the windows shine!

Mercy Franciscan St. John
Social Services Center
Click above to watch a video of this amazing agency!

Making Sandwiches for 200

Distributing Sandwiches & Gatorade
from the Loading Dock

Life in Cincinnati . . .

At home with sisters of Regina Hall

Freedom Center

Biloxi, Mississippi

Mercy Housing and Human Development
Building Communities, One Home at a Time

Temporary Cottages that become beautiful permanent housing!

Everyone was hard at work . . .

And then we went home to reflect on our days . . .

. . . but not spend much time in our bedrooms!

Beautiful Hurricane Katrina Memorial

New York City

Welcome Table (Manhattan)
Click above to see where we served over 800 meals on Sunday!

Ita Ford Center (Brooklyn) 
Here we helped with GED/ESL Classes and administrative tasks,
celebrated International Women's Day, and even shopped for fair trade jewelry!

Mercy Center (The Bronx)

We enjoyed tutoring as well as games and arts-and-crafts
in Mercy Center's After School Program!

New Orleans, Louisiana

Mercy Endeavors Senior Center
Mercy Endeavors Senior Center provides socialization, recreation, health programs, spiritual programs, retreats, crafts, computer classes and various other activities to approximately 90 seniors. The program stresses independence and strives to keep older adults active and out of nursing homes. The on-site parish nurse makes referrals, translates medications and medical instructions, as well as encourages weight loss and healthy diets.

Scrap-Booking with the Seniors: Sharing Stories, Warming Hearts!

Thank you to everyone who made these amazing trips possible!

St. Alphonsus Elementary School

Kindergarden Field Day!