First-year students not only heard about Marymount University’s commitment to service during their week-long orientation to college life, they put it into action by assembling 2,000 care packages for teenagers transitioning from foster care to life on their own. The activity was part of the annual Saints Serve Day on Aug. 23.
The care packages will go to Foster Care to Success, a nonprofit organization that helps foster care students across the country when they turn 18 or graduate from high school, which in many states means they must leave the social services system. Designed for new college students, the packages included school supplies, health and personal care items, and small gifts.
“Foster Care to Success is a great program,” said Anne Aichele, Marymount’s assistant director of leadership. “The sometimes abrupt transition out of foster care is an issue that’s more prevalent than many of our students realized, and it’s important that they understand that they may find themselves in classes with people who don’t come from traditional backgrounds and may not have the same support system that they have.”
Aichele said the volunteer event drew more than 200 students.
One of the three pillars of Marymount’s vision, service to others is an integral part of the university’s tradition, dating back to its founding order, the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (RSHM). The day also included a presentation by the school’s Campus Ministry team about the school’s values and RSHM heritage.
“A lot of colleges talk about service and community engagement,” Aichele said. “We take it to heart and really find ways to actively engage our students and to bring people together. That’s one of the things that makes the Marymount experience unique.”
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First-year students at Marymount University assembled 2,000 care packages for teenagers transitioning from foster care to life on their own as part of the annual Saints Serve Day on Aug. 23.
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One of the three pillars of Marymount’s vision, service to others is an integral part of the university’s tradition, dating back to its founding order, the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (RSHM).
