November 2014 Newsletter

MERCY VOLUNTEER CORPS Transforming Lives, Perspectives, The World

Give Thanks

Staff shares favorite Thanksgiving festivities

Feature

Volunteers reflect on their time in service to others

Alumni

Read about the recent Baltimore alumni gathering

Para EspaĂąol pulsa aquĂ­ www.mercyvolunteers.org contactus@mercyvolunteers.org Visit our Blog

#mercyvolunteers

Keri Young

John Farley

Marian Uba Favorite Thanksgiving Memory: After the turkey had been in the oven for a few hours, a guest commented that he couldn’t smell it.

We went back to check and realized the oven was broken! We had to microwave the turkey that year.

Favorite Thanksgiving Memory: I am embarrassed to confess that I thought cranberry sauce only came in a can until I went to a holiday dinner in college. To this day, I still prefer the canned version over the real stuff.

Elizabeth MacNeal

Mary DeMarco Favorite Thanksgiving Food: Mom’s stuffing -- yummy!!

Chris Davidson Favorite Thanksgiving Joke: What did the turkey say to the hunter on Thanksgiving?

- Quack! Quack!

Favorite Thanksgiving Quote: “I can’t cook a Thanksgiving dinner! All I can make is cold cereal and maybe toast.”

-Charlie Brown

Most Thankful For: I’m grateful for the tenants of MVC, by walking with volunteers through this experience I am continually called to deepen my understanding and expression of compassion, spiritual growth and simplicity in community.

Marie Schultz-Stebel Most Thankful For: I am grateful for our volunteers who embrace the year’s journey with all of its gifts and challenges and for the gift of hope that they bring to the world. I am also deeply grateful for our support teams - for their investment of time and care as they offer an encouraging presence to the volunteers on this journey.

Suzy James

Angie Carlton

Favorite Thanksgiving Song: Hello Mr. Turkey, how are you?

Hello Mr. Turkey, how are you?

With a waddle, waddle, waddle and a gobble, gobble, gobble.

Hello Mr. Turkey, how are you?

Favorite Thanksgiving Memory: When I volunteered in Savannah, my community hosted Thanksgiving dinner for about twenty people from our young adult group. It was such a joy to bring together a group of young adults who did not have anywhere to go for the holiday. Today, this reminds me of how thankful I am to have such loving family and friends who open their homes to others for the holidays.

Hola Senor Pavo, coma esta?

Hola Senor Pavo, como esta?

Con a waddle, waddle, waddle y a gobble, gobble, gobble, Hola Senor Pavo, coma esta?

“It is not happy people who are thankful; It is thankful people who are happy!”

MVC Staff shares their favorite Thanksgiving festivities!

Giving Thanks MVC volunteers reflect

Throughout the past four months, many of our volunteers have written to us in blogs, emails, and letters about the transformation they are experiencing. Every day Mercy Volunteers enter into new relationships which challenge both their comfortability and their perceptions. These past few weeks, our volunteers have been able to participate in fall retreats as a time to reflect on the past few months. MVC uses this time to reenergize the volunteers and refocus them on our mission. In many cities, the Sisters of Mercy graciously coordinate these retreats often collaborating two to three communities at a time giving them a chance to reconnect with Mercy Volunteers in other cities. As we continue to support our volunteers through this process, we wanted to share with you their thoughts on the time they have spent at their service sites serving people who are poor and marginalized.

Maureen Paley, Sacramento “Sometimes I have this moment where I’m like ‘Who’s helping who here?’ They surprise me every day, and they teach me probably much more than I could teach them.”

Lauren Stokes, Savannah “Savannah is a beautiful city with even more beautiful people.”

Kate Ulfers, Detroit “Teaching here at Detroit Cristo Rey High School is one of the most challenging things I have ever undertaken. It also is one of the most rewarding. ”

Christine Cirillo, New York City Connecting Catherine’s message and applying it to the presentday needs of the South Bronx community framed my mindset in such a positive way; even more so than before, I can see how my work at Mercy Center has a deeper meaning that is connected to a rich legacy of compassionate service.”

Alex Pierlott, Hartford “Mercy is something I am learning to practice and will continue to learn about as I journey through my year of service.”

Photo from St. Michaels Association for Special Education: Arizona Volunteer Kirsten Fisher with parents and students on Halloween

Detroit protests for right to water

AZ volunteers run a half marathon

Savannah volunteers enjoy retreat

Giving Tuesday: A day of online giving Mercy Volunteer Corps has joined the

#GivingTuesday movement. Following two days of national spending and consumerism, Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday is about using your resources to promote social change through generosity during the holiday season.

This year Giving Tuesday takes place on December 2nd. Mercy Volunteer Corps is using this national day of giving to launch their 12 Days of Giving Campaign. This campaign has a goal of raising $6,000 in 12 days, a goal which will be used to support the formation of Mercy Volunteers.

Alumni in Baltimore gather for talk on immigration Mercy Volunteers serve nationally and On Tuesday, November 18th Mercy Volunteer Corps alumni and internationally in the fields of education, current volunteers gathered with Sisters and Associates at Mercy health care, and social services. They Villa in Baltimore, Maryland. MVC staff members John Farley and are advocates for people who are Marie Schultz-Stebel ‘99 were also in attendance. Alumni met for a underprivileged and work towards social gathering followed by a talk about immigration and the Mercy achieving justice while living in the spirit response given by Marianne Comfort (Institute Justice Team) and of Mercy.

Sister Eileen Campbell, RSM (Institute Leadership Team).

This holiday season, Mercy Volunteers The talk detailed the Mercy Community’s commitment towards are asking you to consider supporting seeking justice through reform of the current immigration process.

Mercy Volunteer Corps in their effort to Sister Eileen Campbell also spoke about her choice to commit an act continue to place and support volunteers of civil disobedience this past summer. in some of the most impoverished communities in the Americas. Giving to our organization allows us to continue our mission to support people who are Anita Kumar Chang ‘06 is currently doing her medical rounds at poor and marginalized by providing John D. Dingell VA Medical Center in Detroit, Michigan. communities with volunteers who will Baltimore Gathering: eight alumni were present at the Baltimore work in inner city schools, who will gathering and shared stories of their continued commitment to continue homeless outreach, and who will offer medical attention and support Mercy. to those with subsidized or no insurance.

If you would like to donate to Mercy Volunteer Corps this holiday season please visit: New York City, NY- Chris Davidson will host an event on December 3rd www.mercyvolunteers.org/donate Philadelphia, PA- Chris Davidson will host an event on December 10th Mercy Volunteer Corps thanks you for Please contact Chris for more information on these events! your generosity and wishes you many Contact: Chris Davidson, chrisdavidson@mercyvolunteers.org blessings this holiday season!

Alumni Gather in Baltimore

Alumni Announcements

Alumni Events

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.

December Events Dec. 2 Giving Tuesday Dec. 2-13 12 Days of Giving Dec. 18 Board Meeting Dec. 25 Christmas Dec. 31 New Year’s Eve

Recruitment & Applications December 16th

Mercy Volunteer Corps 1325 Sumneytown Pike P.O. Box 901 Gwynedd Valley, PA 19437 Phone: 215.641.5535 ContactUs@mercyvolunteers.org www.mercyvolunteers.org www.mercyvolunteers.tumblr.com

Chris Davidson will host an online webinar for potential applicants and volunteers. He will discuss the application process and answer questions about applying, service site locations, benefits, and our mission. Please contact Chris with any questions or visit our website for more information!

ChrisDavidson@mercyvolunteers.org www.mercyvolunteers.org/webinar

January 15th This is our priority deadline for all MVC applicants. Applications submited by this deadline will have priority in discerning where to serve.

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

#mercyvolunteers