High school students give a week to giving back

A group of 20 local high school students donated a week of their summer vacation to help brighten the days for strangers in need.

Thanks to a partnership between Catholic Charities and the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Institute for Evangelization’s Office of Family, Youth and Young Adult Ministry, “Serve Baltimore” made its presence felt July 12-16. 

Deacon Dan Miller, who is assigned to the pastorate of Christ the King in Glen Burnie and St. Bernadette in Severn, said the volunteers “dived right in” to help. 

“I’ve told them that, as you go through your day (in service), you are part of something bigger than you,” he said. “You will never look into the eyes of someone who God does not love. Everyone you serve is a child of God. When other organizations can’t figure out how to serve people in need, the (Catholic) Church steps up. You are part of this bigger church that is ready and willing to serve whoever they can.”

Representing four parishes, the volunteers visited five Catholic Charities sites. The parish groups came from St. Ursula in Parkville, Our Lady of Victory in Arbutus, St. Joseph in Cockeysville and the Pastorate of Christ the King and St. Bernadette.

This marks the third year of Serve Baltimore’s summertime mission. Two years after launching the initiative with seven volunteers, the program welcomed the most participants in its existence.

The five sites visited by small groups of high school kids on a rotational basis over five days included Gallagher Services in Timonium; Sarah’s House in Fort Meade; and Our Daily Bread Employment Center, My Sister’s Place Women’s Center and Jenkins Senior Living Community, each in Baltimore.

St. Frances Academy hosted Serve Baltimore for the third year. After the volunteers had made their rounds each morning, they gathered for lunch at St. Frances Academy, then processed their service experiences together during a period of group prayer and reflection.

While he was at My Sister’s Place Women’s Center sorting and organizing donated clothes July 17, Simon Sang, a parishioner of Our Lady of Victory, said his first experience with Serve Baltimore was giving him a sense of fulfillment and confirming his faith.

“I am motivated to help people. I see the face of Jesus in everyone and I want to represent Jesus every day,” said Sang, who also had enjoyed appreciative feedback from residents a day earlier at the Jenkins assisted living facility. Residents joked and played cards with the youngsters in service.

“Their faces lit up in our presence,” Sang added. “All you have to do is give them a smile. It really means something.”

Carli Desi, a high school junior and a parishioner of St. Joseph in Cockeysville, said her visit to Gallagher Services had been her favorite stop thus far. The facility provides support to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

“We made coffee for them, played ‘Uno’ in one room with three of the adults and made bracelets in another room with (a man named) Mike,” said Desi, who showed off the bracelet Mike had made for her.

“Sitting and talking to them was eye-opening,” she said. “The way they seemed to feel so joyous, I felt God’s presence in them.”

Franklin Gressek, a parishioner of Our Lady of Victory heading into his 10th-grade year, said he has offered his services several times at Our Daily Bread, delivering food to the hungry. His visit to the Jenkins facility also resonated with him.

“Part of the experience (at Our Daily Bread) makes me feel sad to see people angry, or struggling because of substance abuse or losing their jobs,” he said. “Walking in (at Jenkins) and seeing (residents) joking with each other or with us, that helped my day get better. I feel like I did something good. The people who work at places like this are our bright hope. They make me want to volunteer more.”

Emily Bryan, an elementary school teacher who worked as a team leader with Our Lady of Victory service team members, said she is excited by the prospect of many of the Serve Baltimore youths becoming committed volunteers for much of their lives.

Bryan recalled growing up in Havre de Grace. As a middle-schooler at St. Patrick’s in search of service credits in advance of the sacrament of confirmation, she learned about the power of volunteering and never stopped.

“I remember volunteering at the library and at a local nursing home (in Havre de Grace). Having those opportunities to make a difference in your community was so impactful for me,” Bryan said. “I still love feeling the joy of bringing joy to someone else. There is always a real need for volunteers like these kids, who are so respectful and great to be around. They are giving back to the community.”

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