Service Projects
Service to the campus, local community and global network is a cornerstone to our Franciscan values and is embraced by the Office of Residence Life. The Resident Assistants are encouraged to sponsor floor projects or mentor fellow residents in their involvement with service opportunities on campus. These activities may include programs at our Dorothy Day Center, participating on a Relay for Life team, fundraising for breast cancer awareness month, collecting food for Thanksgiving baskets or toys for the angel tree.
In addition, in 2007-2008, the Residence Life staff actively participated in three major projects and welcomed students to join them. These projects included Jared Boxes, Backpacks for the Joshua Project (Day of Reflection) and Adopt a Family.
Jared Boxes
Since October 2002, the Residence Life staff has made activity boxes for chronically and/or terminally ill children. Named after a young child, Jared McMullen, the boxes provide some relief to those challenging hospital visits. Starting out with 50 boxes, the project grew to over 400 boxes. The staff was honored to have Jared’s mother join us for our Day of Reflection in 2004. Her story and Jared’s struggle inspired the staff to continue our efforts for the future. Currently, the boxes are taken to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, and due to the growing numbers, boxes will be shared with other hospitals in Pennsylvania and surrounding areas.
The boxes are funded through a raffle and the generous donations of resident students, faculty, staff and local businesses. It costs approximately $6.00 to make one box.
The Joshua Project (Day of Reflection)
Saint Francis University sets aside one Tuesday each October to come together as a community to reflect on our Franciscan mission and values. One portion of the day centers on projects to support the year’s theme. This year (2007), the RA staff set about to collect funds to put together back pacts for the Joshua House. Backpacks were filled with supplies needed for school (calculators, tablets, pencils, note cards, pens, markers, post its, staplers, tape, scissors, and on and on!) Each RA staff was asked to collect funds to donate at least one backpack per hall. The majority of halls were able to donate at least 2!
Adopt a Family
Christmas is always a special time of year, but for some families, it can be heartbreaking if there is simply not enough money to provide gifts for their children. This year, Residence Life along with several other organizations participated in the Dorothy Day Center’s Adopt a Family Program. Our family had 4 daughters and we wanted to do our very best to give them a special Christmas. Through soliciting donations, our staff was able to purchase a number of gifts for the family.
So, as you can see, service is important to us in Residence Life. Whether the challenge is big or small is not important – making a difference is!