Mount Students Volunteer 1,320 Hours During Month of Service
10/23/2017
Riverdale, N.Y. – The University of Mount Saint Vincent community has completed another successful Month of Service, part of its Leaders in Service initiative, which ran through October 6. Open to all students, the event was established in 2013, building upon the Mount’s Day of Service tradition. This year, 740 students participated in 78 service events, volunteering a total of 1,320 hours.
During the Month of Service, students volunteered with POTS Soup Kitchen, Habitat for Humanity, and the American Cancer Society. Additionally, students conducted cleanups of Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx and visited veterans at the James J. Peters VA Medical Center and Susan’s Place, a shelter for homeless women, many of whom are victims of domestic violence. The Month of Service also allowed students to work on various initiatives with the Sisters of Charity of New York—from providing support to immigrants to spending time at Kittay House, a senior living community.
“The students who participated truly captured the spirit of Saints Elizabeth Ann Seton and Vincent de Paul,” noted Matthew Shields, Director for Mission and Ministry at the Mount. Mr. Shields said the Month of Service is often an informal induction into the Mount’s storied tradition of giving back. Many students reflect on these and other volunteer experiences as they present and discuss efforts at the College’s annual Student Research and Service Symposium each spring.
During last year’s Symposium, business major and Bronx resident Aaron Cruz ’18, reflected on how his time volunteering at Bethlehem Farm—a Catholic community located in West Virginia’s rural Appalachia region—expanded his perspective on poverty. “It wasn’t exactly a matter of being so poor you didn’t have a home, but the reality of not having enough money to pay for major repairs,” he said. “I credit the Mount for helping me understand the impact one person can have on others.”
About the University of Mount Saint Vincent
Founded in 1847 by the Sisters of Charity, the University of Mount Saint Vincent offers nationally recognized liberal arts education and a select array of professional fields of study on a landmark campus overlooking the Hudson River. Committed to the education of the whole person, and enriched by the unparalleled cultural, educational, and career opportunities of New York City, the College equips students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary for lives of professional accomplishment, service, and leadership in the 21st century.