New Students Launch Emmanuel Journey with a Day of Service and Community

Building community through service has always been a core value of Emmanuel College. For the Class of 2030, it'll also be one of their first memories as students in the Heart of Boston.

Rising early the final morning before the new academic year, more than 400 Saints volunteered at food pantries, shelters, and community organizations through the Emmanuel New Student Day of Service on Sept. 1.

Speaking to the new students before they set out, Vice President of Mission & Ministry Fr. Federico Cinnoca welcomed the Class of 2030 and invited them to embrace the common goal of the day.

"Maybe you are coming here with many dreams and hopes for the future, but I hope we also have a common one: to make the world a better place," said Fr. Federico. "This starts today with the work we are doing and the many communities we are visiting."

All told, Saints volunteered at 22 sites across the city, at organizations that were excited and grateful to receive the assistance, said Campus Minister Sofia Estrada-Hannigan. She congratulated students for becoming part of Emmanuel’s ongoing practice of working with students and local organizations to make a positive impact in the community.

"It's always been part of Emmanuel's culture to take our learning outside of the classroom, so today you're part of a tradition that's more than 100 years old, of leaving our brick buildings and going to engage with the Boston community," said Estrada-Hannigan.

More than 70 student leaders were also involved with the effort, including rising senior Neve Sheckells. She spoke to the value of service—volunteerism that makes a material difference in the lives of others—and urged new Saints to consider the day as their first chapter in a new relationship with the city of Boston.

"To me, being a part of the Heart of Boston represents a commitment to one another, not just in this Emmanuel community, but to all 673,000 residents of the city of Boston," said Sheckells. "I implore you, do not let the work you do today be an exception; make service a part of your Emmanuel journey and an irrevocable facet of the person that you become while you're here."

Rising senior Ayah Saquer was among the 20 students who volunteered that morning at the Food Project greenhouse in Boston's Dudley neighborhood. As a student leader, she helped new Saints become acclimated to the environment. There was also an aspect of things coming full circle: she interned at the greenhouse over the summer, to learn more about the non-profit world and the Food Project's commitment to promoting fresh and sustainable produce in urban communities.

"It's very rewarding to bring Emmanuel students here and show them what we've been working on all summer and having them participate as well," she said.

Another group of students volunteered at the Yawkey Center Food Pantry in Dorchester. They helped process bulk donations from the Greater Boston Food Bank, so they could be distributed to the 400 households served daily by the pantry. Those contributions were deeply appreciated.

"One thing that really sticks out with the Emmanuel students is their sense of hope," said Director of Food Pantries Christine Keller. "They're eager, positive, and willing to help out in any way; it's a real gift for us… It takes a lot of hands to make all of this happen every day."

Blanca Guardiola was one of the first-year students who participated in the day of service. She spent the morning gardening at the Haley House Soup Kitchen, and said it was a good experience all around.

"I liked the team and community building," she said. "It's nice that we give back to the community and keep this tradition going."