On March 7, 2015, ninety-eight Saint Anselm College students returned to campus with a new perspective, all thanks to their life changing service experiences with the Service and Solidarity program on campus. Seven groups served in locations throughout the United States, and one served in Haiti. They all did a variety of volunteer work: helping in orphanages, soup kitchens, and schools. When they returned, they were changed—and the change was evident.

To make these opportunities possible for students at Saint Anselm College, considerable planning went into preparing the trips. Campus Ministry provided fundraisers for the students to raise money for the trip. These fundraisers included raking and selling rugby tee shirts, ties, and cash calendars. They also organized campus activities to raise money, including bowling nights and dodge ball tournaments. Participants asked for donations from their fellow students, friends, and family to support them on their endeavors.

In addition, the groups made a point to get to know each other before they departed—the most important way was during a retreat held in November. On this retreat, the students discovered the purpose of their service: “To learn about Catholic social teaching while spending time living and working with those most in need.” Their peers conditioned their faith to prepare for the challenging and inspiring week ahead.

The international service trip went to Haiti to work with the “Be Like Brit” Organization.

In the morning, they helped with housing projects for families in need and spent time in the afternoon with the sixty-seven children at the “Be Like Brit Orphanage”. They were completely immersed in the Haitian culture, adjusting to a new territory, language, and situation. The group adapted quickly with the help of the warm and inviting smiles of the children there, who truly made their time there even more inspiring.

The national service groups ventured to a variety of locations: Mississippi, Maryland, South Dakota, Kentucky, Phoenix, Philadelphia, and the Gulf Coast.

In Mississippi, the students worked at Camp Glenmary, a camp for low-income and underprivileged children. At the camp there is no electricity; on rainy days, the group prepared the cabins and facilities for the upcoming season, while they did more outdoor work on the sunny days.

Sophomore Alicia Chouinard describes her cultural experience in Mississippi. She said, “While the countryside was beautiful, there were clear marks of poverty that humbled me and made me more eager to serve the wonderful people there. The signs of poverty are not what I will remember most though; I will remember the people.”

Another group drove to the Benedictine School for Exceptional Children in Maryland. The Benedictine School offers educational, residential, and day services for children and adults with developmental disabilities, ages five through sixty. Each morning, the group was assigned a classroom to assist in for the day with students ranging from very high to low mental function. Each of the Saint Anselm students was able to connect with a wide variety of students for the week they were there.

In rural South Dakota, Saint Anselm students worked with “Re-member”: a reservation site that provided the students with opportunities to immerse themselves in the Lakota culture. They were completely engaged in the Lakota community and helped with construction projects such as putting together bunk beds for those who had never slept in a bed before.

The group of education majors and minors from Saint Anselm ventured to David, Kentucky where they worked at the David School for at-risk youth. This school is an alternative school for approximately twenty-five students ages 13-19 in this area of Appalachia. The Education students enjoyed interacting with the students here and planning activities and lessons for them, each getting to teach one lesson on their own.

In Phoenix, Arizona, the Saint Anselm students worked at the André House of Hospitality. The André House “is a ministry to the homeless and poor populations of the Phoenix area, making their services available to hundreds of people in need every day.” Here, Saint Anselm students were assigned various tasks such as food prep, laundry, greeting, and assistance with entry. They got to see a new level of those struggling with homelessness and lived in solidarity with them, treating them with the dignity they deserve.

In Philadelphia, Saint Anselm students served the homeless in the Saint Francis Inn and Soup Kitchen. Here, they served the meals and greeted the guests of the Inn. According to Jessica Kaufman (’18), a participant on the trip, “The soup kitchen serves restaurant style rather than buffet style which allowed our group to personally interact with the guests of the Inn and truly serve in solidarity.”

Kaufman was amazed at the ways she learned to better serve and treat others. She suggested, “I encourage fellow students to take the initiative and pursue going on one of these trips, as it is a great opportunity for all.”

On the Gulf Coast, the group’s mission was to continue the clean-up ten years following Hurricane Katrina. The primary purpose of the trip was gulf coast eco-system restoration. The students completed projects such as shoreline restoration, Native plant propagation, wild-life habitat improvement, storm water treatment, public land restoration, and invasive species removal.

Before the service trips departed, they were all given the same cross to take with them on their journey. These crosses united them, so they knew that although they were physically separated, they were forever bonded. In the 25 years of Service and Solidarity trips, the lesson remains the same: Strive to live in kinship with one another, not seeing us and them, but only us. Through the unforgettable experiences that the alternative trips offer, Saint Anselm students leave pieces of their hearts with their family abroad and bring back love, peace, and perspective.