Spring break service trips serve Hartford, Long Island and New Orleans

Three groups of Saint Michael’s students, sent forth by the service arm of Edmundite Campus Ministry called MOVE, resumed a longstanding tradition of trips focused on helping others during spring break to locations across the U.S.

Vicky Castillo ’20, MOVE assistant director, oversees these service trips, said Lara Scott, director of MOVE. “Having three trips out this break was so exciting after the pandemic limiting us in this outreach in recent years, Scott said.

Here are summaries of this year’s three service trips:

Long Island, NY

Making dinner at Pax Christi.

A group of three students, led by student leader Lydia Powell and staff leader Bhuttu Mathews, traveled to Hope House Ministries in Port Jefferson, NY to immerse themselves in a week of service with the clients of Hope House Ministries’ numerous social service programs. The group worked most closely serving meals for the men at Pax Christi Hospitality Center, a shelter for men experiencing homelessness, and spending time and engaging with people within Monfort Therapeutic Residence, which is a program that provides support for 11-18 year olds who are caught up in the family court system.

Bhuttu Matthews of the Counseling Center was a staff leader in Long Island

Scott said she particularly appreciated an alumni connection that the Long Island group made this year. “Kath Hack (Katherine Hackett ’11) was amazing, as always, and hosted the Hope House team last week. What a beautiful connection between an engaged alum and current students/staff, and who better to do it!” Scott said. “Having three trips out this break was so exciting after the pandemic limiting us in recent years.

Hackett connected with a Saint Michael’s group of MOVE volunteers recently on Long island where she lives, which had special meaning to the former employee of the College Admission Office since she made similar MOVE service trips to various locations in her student and employee days.

Katherine Hackett ’11 hosts the Long Island group.

Katherine posted about it on social media with this image and these words: “We had so much fun we almost forgot to take a pic! Beyond honored to host this MOVE group from Saint Michael’s College for dinner during their service trip with Hope House Ministries. After a little impromptu tea bag quote reflection, one we hadn’t mentioned made its way into my clean up that is totally a sign from [the late] Father Mike [Cronogue, founder of MOVE and beloved campus minister in Hackett’s time on campus]: “Use your head to live with heart”    SO happy to share stories and traditions new & old with this crew.”

Kitchen work to feed the hungry with the Hartford, CT, group.

Hartford, CT

A group of four students, led by student leader Nadia Racz and staff leader Anthony Bassignani, traveled to Hartford, CT and spent the week volunteering at multiple organizations focused on addressing the problem of homelessness and food insecurity within the city of Hartford.

The group had very full days of service beginning with half the group serving breakfast and lunch at soup kitchen House of Bread, and the other half volunteering at a homeless shelter, St. Elizabeth’s House within Mercy Housing & Shelter Corporation. In the afternoons, the group volunteered at Alfred E. Burr Community School’s afterschool program interacting with middle school students doing activities and helping them with their homework. In the evening, they volunteered at a homeless shelter, ImmaCare, engaging and playing games with the people there.

New Orleans, LA

The New Orleans group at work, led by Joel Ribout of the facilities staff in blue shirt back row.

A group of six students, led by student leader Colleen Swanhart and staff leader Joel Ribout, traveled to New Orleans, LA. to work with a number of organizations within New Orleans and surrounding cities. The group volunteered most closely with New Orleans Mission, a faith-based organization dedicated to providing resources and spiritual support to those experiencing homelessness, poverty, addiction, hunger, and oppression. The group also worked with Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West to work on an assortment of construction projects that will benefit low-income families in the area.