 |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Gwynedd-Mercy College Alternative Spring Break 2009The 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 47 students on four different ASB trips: New Orleans, Savannah, Baltimore and the Bronx. See below for trip stories, photos, and links to the agencies with whom we will be serving. New Orleans, Louisiana
Simona Jusyte, a junior biology major, shared the following account of the ASB New Orleans trip in the most recent edition of the Gwynmercian, our student newspaper: How do I begin to describe my experience of the Alternative Spring Break in New Orleans? There are many possible answers that come to mind. I can say it was an incredible experience due to the people I met, the service I was able to be a part of, and the different world I saw. New Orleans has gone through many changes in the past four years. Many lives were lost and even more homes were destroyed; however, people have never lost the spirit of the city.
During the trip, 15 students, accompanied by Betsy Stone Plummer of Campus Ministry and by Professor Mary Jo Pierantozzi, were able to work in Mercy Endeavors, in St. Adolphus Elementary School, and with the Galilee housing project. The Mercy Endeavors Senior Center seemed to become our second home. The workers were so nice and supplied us with breakfast and lunch each day. More than that, the little tasks that we did, such as organizing books, doing manicures, or playing bingo, seemed to mean so much to the elderly people there. The thing that I enjoyed the most, however, was the personal stories I heard. No matter what horrible things people had experienced, they never forgot to be thankful for the things they have and still enjoy. The spirit of the people in New Orleans seemed to transform the city and rejuvenate it after the destruction of Hurricane Katrina. When the people of New Orleans were speaking about their city, it was like they were describing their homes, with each cafe, restaurant or sculpture representing a different part of their living room. Everyone is a family there, and things move at a much slower pace; the people never forget the ones that were lost, but most of all, they do not forget the ones that remain. I would like to thank everyone who made this trip possible. T Most of all, thank you for a great experience that I never would have been able to enjoy anywhere else. - Simona Jusyte, Class of 2010 Note: to see where Team NOLA stayed, see St. Vincent's Guest House. . .
Savannah, Georgia
Eleven students and two staff traveled to Savannah GA from March 1-7. We made our home at St. James Parish, which kindly offered us the use of two meeting rooms and a kitchen. Sleeping on air mattresses on the floor and showering at the local hospital’s wellness center may have been “roughing it,” but the good cheer and easygoing spirit of the team made it all part of the fun.
Our primary host for the week was Jennifer Brown. Jenny is a Mercy Associate, regional coordinator for the Mercy Volunteer Corps community in Savannah, and a case worker at St. Joseph’s/Candler SOURCE (Service Options Using Resources in Community Environments). SOURCE is devoted to providing supportive care for impoverished people who are elderly or infirm but who want to continue living independently; over the course of the week our students helped with a variety of special projects on behalf of SOURCE clients.
Throughout the week, the group took turns working on a wheelchair ramp for Mr. Farmer, who had been on a waiting list for a ramp for almost two years. When our students arrived to begin work on the ramp on Monday, they were dismayed to see an ambulance arrive and take him to the hospital. He had been having difficulty breathing, and was admitted on Monday evening. After a week of hard work, however, we have every reason to believe that when Mr. Farmer is finally discharged he can be wheeled right up the ramp to his door.
Before: Stairs were difficult to navigate. After: easy access via a brand-new ramp! We also worked on a variety of projects for other SOURCE clients, including:
Mr. Willie had already suffered a traumatic brain injury and a stroke when he lost his brother, with whom he lived in a small house on a rural road in Effingham County. We cleared fallen branches and debris off his front lawn, and planted purple pansies where he can see them from his front porch. Although he could not speak and had lost the use of one arm, Mr. Willie pitched in with the branch-clearing, gave us a joyful thumbs-up with each task well done, and wrote us a kind thank-you note as we were leaving.
The Georgia Infirmary was the first hospital for African Americans in the country. They currently provide an adult day center where elderly and medically compromised clients can enjoy lunch, social activities, medical attention, case work and more. Several times throughout the week our students had the opportunity to spend a few hours at the day center, where they heard many people’s stories, engaged in “seated aerobics,” played challenging games of Connect Four and had their hearts touched by the good people whose company they kept for a few simple hours.
One of the unexpected delights of the trip sprang from an encounter in the Philadelphia airport. As we were boarding the plane, a woman noticed our bright blue “GMC ASB Savannah 09” tee shirts. Sandra Cross is a 2006 alum of Gwynedd’s Center for Lifelong Learning. A Savannah native, she returned there about a year ago following her husband’s death. She was delighted to learn that GMC students were traveling to her hometown to serve, and instantly insisted that we must come to her home to for dinner. And so, on Wednesday evening, we drove out to Sandra’s house in Pooler (just outside of Savannah), not knowing what to expect. What we discovered was a tremendous feast; Sandra used to run her own catering business (“Simply Sisters”) and provided us with a wonderful assortment of regional foods. We enjoyed her gracious hospitality and her engaging sister, niece and grand-niece and nephew, and ended the evening by giving her her very own “GMC Savannah” t-shirt. “Gwynedd really is everywhere!” she exclaimed.
The people we met, the experiences and conversations we shared, and the things we learned about the world and ourselves will stay in our hearts and minds long beyond the trip. As Jessi McConaghy (a veteran of two ASB trips) wrote, "As a nursing student I sincerely enjoy going on service trips because they are an out of the classroom learning experience that enriches my holistic education from Gwynedd-Mercy College. I love it! I intend on using everything I learned from ASB's present, past and future in my life and future career!"
Bronx, New York
After an unexpected “snow holiday” (and some shoveling!) on the Monday of our service week, we began our days of service at Mercy Center in the Bronx. Morning activities included working at the parish school, ESL/GED tutoring, assisting at an Infant/Toddler program, and help with administrative tasks at the Center. The highlight of our afternoons was running an after-school camp for the children of Mercy Center. During this “Camp Around the World,” we highlighted various international cultures through arts & crafts, sports and dance activities, and even snacks provided by GMC! The entire Marcy Center community was an inspiration to us. Our eyes were opened and our hearts were moved by their courage, strength, and hope. As one student said, “My ASB experience is something that I will never forget. It was life-changing for me.”
, Baltimore, Maryland
Our Baltimore trip went from a potential experience in homelessness, when our original housing plans fell through, to being hosted by a very generous family, who opened their home to us and greeted us each night (along with their very friendly dog!), wanting to hear about our day’s adventures. Sister Kitty Nueslein, a Baltimore Sister of Mercy who has built community with the very poor and marginalized in a southwest section of Baltimore, planned our activities with:
The experience in Baltimore was profound, both in what we learned and how we engaged with the local residents, who shared with us their very personal stories of the poverty and violence from which they suffer and the wonderful assistance they receive from Sister Kitty and so many caring social workers and volunteers. ,
|
|
||||||||||
hank you to the people of New Orleans for amazing us with your warmth and kindness. Thank you to Betsy Stone Plummer and Professor Pierantozzi for being an amazing support team, and thank you to the NOLA team, which made me laugh, cry, and appreciate each day.
Jenny also serves as the work supervisor for Matt Mazzoni (GMC ’07) in his MVC placement at SOURCE, where Matt strives to help clients become better connected to their local communities. Matt also played a tremendous role in our ASB experience; a veteran of two ASB trips to Laredo, Matt now had the opportunity to host a team. He worked side-by-side with our students all week, hosted the group for dinner at the Mercy Corps house twice, cooked with us, did our dishes more than once, and generally helped us to feel at home in his new hometown.
Our service in New York began with a daylong experience at the 
