MERCY VOLUNTEER CORPS Transforming Lives, Perspectives, The World
Recruitment Applications for the 2015-2016 season are now available
Feature
Alumni’s sisters serving as new MVC volunteers
Alumni Events are coming to a town near you; find out where
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Volunteers in the health care field
Detroit volunteers and support team
Hartford volunteers enjoy the city
Alumni’s Sisters Serve As MVC Volunteers Quetzalli Rocha reflects on her choice to serve in her sister’s footsteps This year, Mercy Volunteer Corps has two of our alumni’s little sisters serving with us! Both Quetzalli Rocha and Ella Walzer have joined in their sisters’ footsteps to bring Mercy to the world. This year, Quetzalli is volunteering in New York City with Catholic Migration Services and Ella is volunteering in Detroit at Mercy Education Project. While neither Quetzalli nor Ella is volunteering in the same city as their older sisters, both were influenced to serve within the Mercy Community because of them. MVC staff is thrilled to have two family additions in our community and is looking forward to hearing about each sister’s unique experience as a Mercy Volunteer. Here is what Quetzalli says about continuing the family tradition to volunteer with MVC: “I found out
about Mercy Volunteer Corps because my sister Xochitl Rocha was actually a Mercy Volunteer in Detroit at Cabrini Clinic in 20112012. Witnessing her experience and transformative process largely influenced my decision to choose Mercy Volunteer Corps as a year-long service learning opportunity. I had the opportunity to visit her in Detroit and see the close connections that she was establishing with her community and with the people she worked with at Cabrini Clinic. Once I finished college, I was inspired to embark on a similar experience to immerse myself in a new community and have the opportunity to live somewhere where I wouldn’t typically live without the support of the Mercy Community. My family was in full accord with the two of us volunteering, they
see it as a wonderful way to gain professional experience while being a steward for social change. My family helped me realize the opportunities and benefits that come along with choosing to be a Mercy Volunteer rather than beginning an entry level job. The experience is unique; volunteers are living in solidarity with the people they are working with and those in their neighborhood. The organizations where Mercy Volunteers are serving are established in the community and are accustomed to training and teaching volunteers. My sister and my family have assisted in showing me that I am not living and experiencing this alone, I am receiving the support of a complex network of people who are involved in the Mercy community and who are working to make the world a better place.” Photo from left to right: Quetzalli with her older sister and MVC Alumni Xochitl
GIVING TUESDAY
$6,000 GOAL IN 12 DAYS
“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” -Winston S. Churchill
Giving Tuesday is a Black Friday alternative that promotes responsible and impactful spending during the holiday season. It is a global movement to spend one day giving back to our community and celebrating generosity. This year, Giving Tuesday falls on December 2, 2014. This December, Mercy Volunteer Corps will be kicking off our 12 Days of Giving Campaign on Giving Tuesday in hopes of raising $6,000 in 12 days to support our volunteers in their service to people who are poor and marginalized. Our goal of $6,000 will enable Mercy Volunteer Corps to provide ongoing support and continued formation opportunities. Reaching this goal will not be possible without the support of people like you, our generous community who continues to support us as we grow as an organization. So, this Christmas, we are asking you to do something different. Consider supporting MVC in our goal to raise $6,000 by donating to our 12 Days of Giving Campaign. Make the choice this holiday season to promote giving and generosity. You can donate today by visiting our website. If you or your company are interested in supporting this goal through your end of year giving or would like to provide a matching gift, contact us!
Please Contact: John Farley, johnfarley@mercyvolunteers.org
Recruitment
Have An Idea?
It’s official! We have released the application for our 2015-2016 season. We are thrilled to be starting another recruitment season and are looking forward to our many visits to colleges, high schools, and conferences across the country. If you or someone you know is interested in having MVC staff visit to talk more about our mission, volunteers, and recruitment process, please contact our Recruitment Coordinator at the email address below. We would be happy to visit you!
Do you have a great idea for recruitment? alumni involvement? a story for our newsletter? or perhaps fundraising? We would love to hear from all of our Mercy Volunteer Corps’ supporters to help further our mission! Let us know about all of your ideas and suggestions.
MVC kicks off our recruitment season
Please Contact: Chris Davidson, chrisdavidson@mercyvolunteers.org
We love to hear from you
Please Contact:
elizabethmacneal@mercyvolunteers.org
New Board Member: Carol Tropiano, RSM Sr. Carol Joins MVC Board August 2014
Mercy Volunteer Corps would like to introduce and warmly welcome our newest board member, Sr. Carol Tropiano. Sr. Carol is currently a Chaplain at St. Joseph Hospital and a member of our MVC support team in Savannah, Georgia. She has extensive knowledge in the vocational and educational fields and joins our Board of Directors with professional experience in organizational development, assessment psychology, and governance. Sr. Carol entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1977 and has been a minister and advocate for Mercy ever since. Sr. Carol holds a B.S. in Elementary Education and Detroit volunteers and alumni gather for dinner an M.A. in Theology. In 2000, Sr. Carol David Anderson, MVC alumni, hosted a dinner with alumni in the represented the U.S. vocational ministers Detroit area and our current Detroit volunteers to welcome them into at an international meeting of Incorporation the Mercy Community! Kate Ulfers, current volunteer, commented Ministry in Lima, Peru. “The Mercy Alumni Dinner was as most Mercy events are: very fun Sr. Carol joins the MVC board with great enthusiam stating: “I bring the perspective with many kindhearted people and lots of laughs!” Rich Samartino, current MVC volunteer, added “It is apparent their experiences had a of a love of Mercy and belief and trust in our great impact on what they are choosing to do in life. I hope to have a young adults. I also bring the experience of similar experience and continue doing great work after my year here!” working many years with various groups of people using my gifts to further the life of Our four current volunteers are very greatful to Dave for hosting this Mercy in our world.”
MVC Alumni Dine in Detroit
event and welcoming them to Detroit and the Mercy Community!
Alumni Announcements
Kelly Mihalik ‘13 moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan. She is now working at Spectrum Health as a Registered Nurse. Regina Byrnes Piper ‘10 and husband Mark Piper had a baby girl, Rachel Day Piper on September 24, 2014. (8 pounds 5 ounces)
Alumni Events This fall, Mercy Volunteer Corps is planning alumni gatherings in cities across the United States. If you are interested in helping host an Alumni event, have ideas on venues, or would like to attend one near you, please contact Angie. Please continue to update us on your accomplishments, adventures, and ongoing commitment to Mercy and service. We love to hear from our alumni! Contact: Angie Carlton, angiecarlton@mercyvolunteers.org
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
October Events
Oct. 10-12 MSEC Oct. 15-17 MVC Staff Retreat Oct. 30 Institute Communication Team Oct. 31-Nov. 2 Northeast Justice Planning
Recruitment Visits
University of Wisconsin Creighton University Stonehill College Boston College College of Saint Mary Assumption College College of the Holy Cross Saint Anselm College St. John’s University John Carroll University Mount St. Joseph University Xavier University Fair University of Dayton Ohio Dominican University St. Louis University Mercyhurst University Gannon University Penn State Behrend
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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