This is why we serve.

When you hear about QU’s Day of Service, you may wonder why the university goes through all this time and energy for a few hours of service, and why they cancel classes and give strong incentives for students to participate. When you take part in Day of Service, you grasp the purpose and rewards.

Quincy University hosted their seventh annual Day of Service on October 12, 2022. Eight hundred forty-six faculty, staff and students came together for four hours, performing service projects in 30 organizations in the Quincy community and many projects on campus. The number of volunteers and hours contributed resulted in 3,384 total hours of service.

QU’s Day of Service also included asking community members to participate in the annual QU Food Drive. Students collected food items at local County Markets, Hy-Vees, Save-A-lots, and Walmart locations. Over 1000 items were donated to area food banks including Horizons Food Pantry, St. John's Lutheran Church, and Catholic Charities.

“When we reflect on what makes us a human being, we discover that the drive to serve is innate. We have this natural desire to reach out and help someone in need. We discover how essential it is for us to weave the value of service into the very fabric of our life,” said Fr. John Doctor, OFM, Vice President for Mission and Ministry.

The foundation of initiating and continuing Day of Service hinges on the importance of integrating Franciscan values into the QU culture. Fr. John adds that whether it is through volunteer service, mission trips, Day of Service, or service learning built into an academic course, we often discover how fortunate our life situation is, which leads us to a genuine stance of gratitude.

Students, along with faculty and staff, learn that it is not enough to help someone. We must also be open to be touched by others with the possibility of others changing our life. “Here at Quincy University, service not only allows us to be a gift and blessing for others in need, but it also blesses and gifts us in return,” said Fr. John Doctor, OFM.