A Moment With MVC: April 2015

MERCY VOLUNTEER CORPS Transforming Lives, Perspectives, The World

Recruitment

A list of our current service spotlights seeking volunteers

Feature

Mercy Volunteers travel to Washington D.C. for advocacy

Alumni

National Volunteer Month Alumni Service Day review

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Philly Alumni Clean Up a Trail

AZ and CA Volunteers on Retreat

Hartford Volunteers and Alumni

CA Volunteers Go on a Hike

Arizona Volunteers Visit Alumni Chicago Alumni Opening Prayer

Advocacy in DC

Baltimore Volunteers Visit Washington, D.C. Current Mercy Voluteers attend advocacy days in Washington, D.C. this month This past month, Mercy Volunteers in Baltimore were invited to travel to Washington, D.C. to attend Ecumenical Advocacy Days from April 17-20th. Throughout these three days topics such as racism and incarceration were explored, providing valuable conversation and insight into topics that are often side-lined.

The three Mercy Volunteers who were able to attend these days were thrilled with the experience and noted how important it is for all people to join in on these

types of conversations. These Mercy volunteers attended the conference with Mercy Sisters and Associates.

Mercy Volunteer Cristina Carrillo said “We were all so grateful to be a part of the Ecumenical Advocacy Days to help Break the Chains of mass incarceration and systems of exploitation. It opened up our minds to learning new topics and to see things in a perspective that we have never seen before. There were so many wonderful workshops you could

attend ranging from immigration, to domestic violence, to human trafficking, to water privatization and clean water access. My favorite part was sitting inside the solitary confinement cell.

It was all so real with the the light flickering and recordings of screams and bangs. You just sat there, with nothing to your name, listening to the awful sounds, thinking how inhumane it is as punishment. No person should ever be placed in such inhumane conditions.�

Photo left to right: Kelly Fyffe, Cristina Carrillo, and Anneka Vanderveen

Service Spotlight:

Service Spotlight:

Mercy Education Project: Detroit, MI

HILL HOUSE association, PITTSBURGH PA

Do you have a passion for supporting young girls and women? Do you have a desire to help these girls receive an education? Mercy Volunteer Corps is looking for you! One of our service sites in Detroit, Michigan needs a volunteer to work as a Program Assistant for an at-risk girls education program. Below are some of the responsibilities volunteers in this position will hold. MVC volunteers receive housing, transportation, food and personal stipends, and even a student loan reimbursement for this position! To find out more about becoming a Mercy Volunteer visit our website at www.mercyvolunteers.org or email our Recruitment Coordinator Chris at ChrisDavidson@mercyvolunteers.org.

Are you interested in supporting students who need help accessing resources and materials? Mercy Volunteer Corps is looking for you! One of our service sites in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania needs a volunteer to work as a Student Support Services Coordinator. Below are some of the responsibilities volunteers in this position will hold. MVC volunteers receive housing, transportation, food and personal stipends, and even a student loan reimbursement for this position! To find out more about becoming a Mercy Volunteer visit our website at www.mercyvolunteers.org or email our Recruitment Coordinator Chris at ChrisDavidson@mercyvolunteers.org.

Responsibilities include:

Responsibilities include:

-Working directly with young women in grades 1st-12th -Tutoring and providing activities for the program that build confidence -Occasionally working with the Women’s Program as an adult tutor

-Working directly with students to address individual barriers to school success -Assisting students in accessing supportive services -Coordinating referrals, follow-ip activities, and class notes

Recruitment 2015: Service Spotlights

Mercy Volunteer Corps spotlights volunteer positions in cities across the USA

The final deadline to apply for Mercy Volunteer Corps is May 27, 2015. Throughout this past month we have been spotlighting a few of our service placements where we are still looking to place volunteers.

Do you know someone who would be great for any of these positions? ChrisDavidson@mercyvolunteers.org 1. Mercy Education Project: Detroit, MI Work with young girls and women to help them receive education and tutoring services.

2. Conversational Spanish Speakers: Hartford, CT Help process food pantry donations, serve those who are hungry, and coordinate volunteers.

3. Hill House Association: Pittsburgh, PA Help students receive the services neccessary to achieve success inside and outside of school.

4. Faithful Fools: San Francisco, PA Help people who are homeless receive care and organize events in education, arts, and advocacy.

5. St. Francis of Assisi: Baltimore, MD Coordinate and facilitate Social Justice activities for both a community parish and a school.

Orientation 2015: Pittsb urgh, PA

August 2015

Alumni Host Service Day

Alumni and current volunteers serve in three cities across the USA Mercy Volunteer Corps’ alumni hosted a service day on April 18, 2015 in Baltimore, Chicago, and Philadelphia. The service day was in honor of National Volunteer Month and helped our alumni reconnect with each other and the Mercy community. Current Mercy Volunteers in some cities were also able to attend and were warmly welcomed by our alumni and the Mercy community. Alumni Service Days continue to be a great way for Mercy Volunteer Corps to stay connected with our alumni! We look forward to continuing this tradition in the future, and welcome any ideas you may have for future events!

Baltimore - In Baltimore, Maryland, alumni served at Stella Maris. Stella Maris is a current service site for Mercy Volunteers.

Volunteers spent the day with the elderly, sick, and dying brightening their day with friendly faces and conversation.

Chicago - In Chicago, Illinois, alumni served at Maria Shelter for women and children. Maria Shelter is supported by the Institute of Women Today (IWT). Volunteers spent the day cleaning, gardening, and organizing the campus that IWT and Maria Shelter share.

Philadelphia - In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, alumni served with the Friends of the Wissahickon in Manayunk. Friends of the Wissahickon promotes taking care of our environment and preserving nature. Volunteers spent the day working on park and trail clean up in the Philadelphia area. *Front cover photo features Philadelphia Alumni Service Day Event*

Mercy Volunteer Corps will host our annual orientation in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania this August. Orientation will be held August 3rd-9th at Carlow University. The Commissioning Mass for our 2015-2016 volunteers will be celebrated at the Chaple at Mercy Convent at 4pm on August 8th. Mercy Volunteer Corps Alumni, supporters, and friends are welcome to join us for this celebration! We also welcome any Sisters, Associates, and Campanions of Mercy who would like to join in our commissioning of our new Mercy Volunteers.

Light refreshments will follow the mass to provide an opportunity for all those in attendance to meet our new volunteers!

ContactUs@mercyvolunteers.org

Congratulations:

Alum ni welcome s 7th Ba b y Mercy Volunteer Corps would like to give a very big congratulations to the Hudak family on the birth of their 7th child, Oliver Anchor Hudak! Kelly Matulewicz Hudak ‘98 volunteered with MVC in San Francisco!

ABOUT MERCY VOLUNTEER CORPS

Mercy Volunteer Corps promotes social change by placing and supporting volunteers for one year of service with people who are poor and marginalized in the U.S. and South America. Mercy Volunteers work in education, healthcare, and social services while living together in a community and growing spiritually.

Mercy Volunteer Corps 1325 Sumneytown Pike Gwynedd Valley, PA 19437 Phone: 215.641.5535 ContactUs@mercyvolunteers.org www.mercyvolunteers.org www.mercyvolunteers.tumblr.com

May Events May 20

Development Committee Teleconference

May 22-24

International Transition Retreat

May 25

Memorial Day

May 27

Final Deadline for Applications

Recruitment Visits MVC staff is on the road! Are you interested in meeting with a staff member to hear more about Mercy Volunteer Corps and giving a year of service? Email our Recruitment Coordinator, Chris Davidson today to set up a meeting with a staff member: ChrisDavidson@mercyvolunteers.org

Final Deadline

The final deadline to submit your application to Mercy Volunteer Corps is May 27, 2015. www.mercyvolunteers.org/apply

Extending the Circle

Extending the Circle is a unique program offered

by MVC that allows you to support a specific volunteer.

Check out the volunteers’ individual pages to sponsor them in their year of service!

Donate Now

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