It was such a good experience, all of us helping, talking and working together...it felt very powerful.
As the new semester begins, Bridgewater State University students have learned to adjust to new schedules, classes and finding their social circles, some have even discovered opportunities where they can help others in need.
On Saturday, September 7 over 30 BSU volunteers traveled to Pembroke to pack 13,000 meals for individuals and families experiencing food insecurity in Southeast Massachusetts.
“This event offers students a way to connect to one another early on in the academic year before it gets too busy and helps connect them to the region,” said Laura Mulvey, assistant director of outreach and engagement at the Martin Richard Institute for Social Justice (MRISJ).
The kickoff service event was held in conjunction with the 9/11 Day of Service & Remembrance. It is the sixth year BSU has participated in the national program.
Senior criminal justice major Jemima Saint Leger volunteered at last year’s event and was so inspired, opted to participate again this year.
“It was such a good experience, all of us helping, talking and working together...it felt very powerful,” she said.
Saint Leger said, all of the volunteers came from different disciplines and backgrounds and likes that BSU offers this opportunity so early on in the school year.
“I feel it’s a way, especially for freshman or those who have never participated in something like this, to connect to BSU and with other students,” she said. “It’s very rewarding working with others who also enjoy doing community service, and it’s great the school supports these types of efforts.”
To pack and distribute the meals to local organizations, MRISJ partners with the Outreach Program.
According to Mulvey, BSU is one of 426 campuses that the Outreach Program partners with.
The group keeps a friendly running total, highlighting the schools who pack the most meals and this year BSU is ranked 13th for having packed a total of 119,394 meals since first joining the program.
This year’s meals consisted of flavored oatmeal, minestrone soup, pasta with tomato basil sauce, cheesy rice, Spanish rice and macaroni and cheese. The 13,000 meals BSU put together were then donated to, My Brother’s Keeper, Old Colony Y, Family Pantry, Damien’s Place Food Pantry and Brockton Interfaith Community.
Mulvey encourages students to be on the lookout for other MRISJ sponsored service project opportunities, including the upcoming Sharing the Harvest Service Project scheduled for Sept. 28.
“It’s important for students to get involved with these types of events because it creates community and opens doors for them to learn about other ways they can be actively involved in issues they care about on campus and within their local community,” Mulvey said.
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