I’m a Mercy Volunteer Corps volunteer at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Manhattan which is a world away from New Jersey where I grew up and Notre Dame University where I went to school. I’m a social services assistant which makes me assistant director of the Welcome Table, our weekly soup kitchen, and coordinator of our adult ed and education outreach programs.

My responsibilities at the Welcome Table include giving out clothing to anyone who needs it, and making sure we have our volunteers in place on Sunday morning to handle the 650-800 meals that we serve each week.

Our Basic Adult Education program is my second responsibility. The Jesuits here started the program about 30 years ago and it’s been very successful. We offer English as a Second Language classes and preparation for the GED Exam. It runs for three semesters throughout the year. I am responsible for the seven-week session in the summer, and I assist with the other two semesters. We serve anywhere from 100-150 students each semester who are seeking equivalency degrees.

My third responsibility is with our Education Outreach Program. This is a three-part, 12-week life skills and mentoring program for homeless and formerly homeless adults. We have meetings twice a week. For the first part we invite volunteers to come in and talk about topics such as stress management, money management, conflict resolution—the life skills that everyone needs in order to succeed in life. Many of our adults have had substance abuse problems and need help transitioning. In the second component, we assign each person a mentor that they can meet with to set goals and do some basic planning. In the third part, each participant gets 15 minutes each to tell his or her life story. This is the part of the EOP for which I feel most grateful because it’s when each participant allows me to witness part of his or her personal journey.

My commitment to volunteer for a year in Mercy Volunteer Corps is rooted in my faith. I believe in the common bond that comes from being created by God. The longer I am here the more I see the connection between my faith and my work. Xavier is an unusual place, it’s what I was looking for—a progressive, supportive environment that challenges me every day.