by Tayhana Taylor, World News Editor
On March 5, 2022, over 100 students came together at Saint Leo University to pack over 40,000 meal packages to help aid victims of natural disasters from around the world.
Saint Leo University Ministry partnered with Cross Catholic Outreach to create this volunteer event.
Cross Catholic Outreach is an official Catholic ministry that collaborates with bishops, priests, and both religious and lay workers to provide food, water, housing, education, orphan support, medical care, microenterprise, and disaster relief for the less fortunate.
“We do around 30 events like this across the country each year,” said Rev. David Caron, spiritual outreach director at Cross Catholic. “We are hoping to do more across the country this year, seeing that COVID-19 is now passing.”
Although Cross Catholic does other service projects, like providing toys for young children and hygiene products for those in need through their Box of Joy Program, the food packaging project is one of their more international projects.
“The food packaging service mainly supports those in South, Central America, the Caribbean, and some countries in Africa,” said Caron. “We are in 33 countries, and we send a bag of soy, rice, vegetables, and beans in packages, and these items become a nutritious meal when boiled.”
This is the first year University Ministry has partnered with Cross Catholic.
“When I came with Cross Catholic’s CEO and president to introduce ourselves to President Senese, and he suggested we work together,” said Caron. “We met with Father Randall and others at campus ministry and decided that this food packaging project would be best.”
Cross Catholic typically works with bigger universities than Saint Leo, but the grand turnout from the students exceeded the event organizers’ expectations.
“The turnout, especially for an early Saturday morning, exceeded our expectation because we typically do events like this during the week and in a bigger space,” said Caron. “Since the University’s wellness center will be open next year, the event will be held in that new space.”
Students found joy in helping pack meals for those in need.
“I choose to volunteer this morning because I feel we have so much to give and helping those in need is a way to show the Lord’s hands and feet on Earth,” said Gabby Fonseca, a sophomore majoring in business management.
Some students volunteered to exercise service and gratitude during the period of Lent.
(Photo Source: Tayhana Taylor)
“I volunteered because helping others is something we should always focus on, especially during the season of Lent, so this was the perfect opportunity to give back,” said Mary Worhacz, a junior majoring in medical humanities. Worhacz is also working for the University Ministry.
Worhacz added that she enjoyed her experience volunteering with Cross Catholic because of their passion for helping people.
Service Day 2022 was a successful event that brought Saint Leo students together for the greater good. For those who are interested in learning more about Cross Catholic, visit https://crosscatholic.org/.
