On Sept. 18, three key organizations that were served during this past year’s St. Thomas of Villanova Day of Service returned to Villanova’s campus to continue their important message of service to the community. Representing their respective organizations were Jackie Newns from the St. Raphaela Center; Tom Costello, founder of The Joy of Sox; and Jesse Antonini and Emma Smith of Martha’s Choice Marketplace and Community Farm.
During Villanova’s Day of Service, designated service groups visited these organizations to assist with various assigned tasks, while recognizing the importance of flourishing community centers.
“It was very smooth,” co-Director for Marketing and Outreach Victoria Diaz said. “It was almost overwhelming to see the number of people that showed up. Between students, staff, faculty and alumni all around the world, it made such an impact. It was so positive in so many ways”.
Despite this year marking the 19th annual Day of Service, it is the first year that the Day of Service committee hosted a follow-up for specific organizations. Throughout the day, Newns, Castello, Antonini and Smith were led by committee members to attend a luncheon, tour campus and serve as panelists at a small gathering in the Driscoll 132 Auditorium.
The panel lasted approximately one hour and was open to all students to attend. Panel moderators and committee co-Directors of Community Engagement Patrick Casale and Colleen Buccellato asked the four panelists various questions about their organization’s intended impact, as well as their personal journeys to nonprofit leadership.
“It’s a mosaic of different people’s contributions and ideas,” Antonini said. “And I would say what [Martha’s Community Farm] is bringing the community together to feed the community. So, it’s people from all different backgrounds, different populations, everything. It opens all different kinds of partnerships, and the idea is that the community is going to come.”
Throughout the discussion, panelists heavily emphasized the reciprocal impact of serving one’s community. From an audience’s perspective, the possibilities to leave an impact expanded tremendously.
Newns, Communications and Spiritual Director at St. Raphaela, emphasized this view after the panel.
“The goal is if you find a service placement that you like, that is the right fit for you, then you desire to go back because it makes you a fuller version of yourself, Newns said. “It’s not necessarily an application, and it brings you outside of the ‘student.’ You know, for so many people in college, ‘student’ is my main identity, and contributor, and artist, and musician and economist… there’s so many other identities that can be developed.”
Day of Service Committee and supporting faculty members considered the event a success. They will aim to uphold this new tradition in tandem with the Day of Service itself.
Nick Tumolo, Director of University Events and Initiatives, shared a perspective on the panel which paid homage to the namesake of these events, St. Thomas.
“What I take away from this event and what we’re trying to accomplish with the larger St. Thomas of Villanova Day of Service is to, sort of, introduce new students for the first time to this idea of fulfillment and being fulfilled, or creating opportunities for students who know that and are looking for that,” Tumolo said. “Even just listening to our partners, I feel very fulfilled by the ministry and the mission of their work and now want to seek that out even more.”
“I think the parting message should be that the Day of Service is obviously in the name of one day in which the Villanova community comes together,” Day of Service co-Chair Mia Clingham said. “But it’s also, as everyone has touched on, a gateway into greater service and community at our University and beyond. We hope what people take away from this is that service is not a one-day commitment, it is a greater commitment, and we hope that you join us every day and can visit other organizations on the Day of Service website to connect you with other organizations on this campus.”
St. Raphaela, the Joy of Sox and Martha’s Community Farm are all in need of continued support from the community. They are looking for able and enthusiastic students to assist them with a wide variety of tasks ranging from routine upkeep of facilities to impact research with the intention of trademarking. If one is interested in serving these organizations, do not hesitate to reach out to [email protected].
