Food drives, care packages, and more: Saint Rose students consider the dear neighbor in tough times

Even in this semester like no other, Saint Rose students continued to think about the dear neighbor. The Office of Spiritual Life and the Office of Community Service have compiled a list of the many ways students contributed to the community through activities organized by both offices.

This is in addition to community service efforts outside of those two offices, like the work by student clubs and organizations this semester.

“As the semester has gone along, we have developed a community of students who are always willing to be a part of the next activity to be of service to those around us and among us,” said Joan Horgan, director of spiritual life. “In the midst of so much that is difficult to deal with, these efforts have been truly inspirational for us and for our community partners who are all getting through this challenging time.”

Students who volunteered at activities hosted by Horgan and Meg Parascandola, student development coordinator, made:

• 12 blankets and brought them to the Schuyler Inn shelter for families
• Countless dog toys for our own therapy dogs and for the folks with pets at the Damien Center
• 25 care bags with personal care items for the Albany County Sexual Assault and Crime Victims organization
• 30 paracord bracelets for our veterans
• 24 “Soup in a Jar” packages for the children at the South End Children’s Café
• 26 scarves for the Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless
• 100-plus poppies for Veterans Day
• Several memes and videos for the Red Bookshelf, a childhood literacy organization
• 150 friendship bracelet kits for the City of Albany Youth Rec program and for Equinox
• 20 craft kits for the children at the Schuyler Inn
• Numerous care packages for Equinox shelter
• Several decorated pumpkins for Mercy House women’s shelter
• 260 “Boo Bags” for Halloween that were distributed to our resident first-year students
• Affirmation hearts and messages that were posted around campus to offer emotional support where needed
The students involved with spiritual life and community service also hosted:
• An end-of-the-semester food collection for the food pantry
• A pajama drive for children that benefits HATAS (Homeless and Travelers Aid Society) and the Schuyler Inn
• A book drive for the Red Bookshelf, along with four student gatherings to refurbish books for the organization
• A food drive for the food pantry at St. Vincent’s

“It feels even better knowing these activities cultivated a sense of community for our students and that they were able to live our mission and help the dear neighbor in the process,” said Parascandola.