April 3, 2014
In response to their mission’s call to serve, Ancilla College faculty, staff and students visited the Sojourner Truth House in Gary on Monday, March 24th volunteering their services for the day.
13 representatives of Ancilla College, including 5 students and 8 staff members worked on several separate projects despite the chilly weather. Volunteers raked lawns and swept parking lots to remove dead leaves; others organized shelves, shred old records, assembled office chairs, and unloaded food trucks.
“Service-learning has basically two goals: to help those in need and to offer students the opportunity to learn while doing. Students are asked to reflect on what they have learned from the service-learning activity,” said Sister Carleen Wrasman, PHJC and coordinator of mission integration at Ancilla College.
Students commented on the day: “I learned that although I may not have the money or resources to give, I do, however, have my skills and caring heart to help those in need.” Another said, “I learned that my career in the future will be some form of human services.”
“Spending a day at Sojourner Truth House in Gary is always a good day. Our work is appreciated and we volunteers learn skills and grow in appreciation for our own blessings. It is a particular joy for me to accompany the volunteers to Gary and see the enthusiasm of the students and staff as they eagerly engage in the assigned work,” continued Sister Carleen.
The Sojourner Truth House is a community resource and day shelter for homeless and at-risk women and was founded in 1997 by members of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, the same religious order that founded Ancilla. It was created to help serve the needs of the underserved in the Gary area, providing food, shelter, clothing, and services to the poor and needy.
Ancilla College (www.ancilla.edu) is a Catholic, liberal arts, Associate’s Degree college in Donaldson, Indiana, sponsored by the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ.
Photo: Students and Faculty pose for a picture outside of Sojourner Truth House
Students included in photo: Back Row: (Far left) Joe Oliver, Knox (Second from left) Nathanial Schoff, LaPorte (Third from right) Jarid Blackburn, Plymouth
Front Row (Second from right) Jessica Moore, Walkerton (Third from right) Autumn Ganser, Plymouth