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UC San Diego Campus Members Give Thanks
Through Service at St. Vincent de Paul Village

Brook Williamson | Nov. 13, 2010

Volunteers Group Picture
Volunteers plant flowers in one of the courtyards at St. Vincent de Paul Village.
Click here to view the slideshow.

“You can’t promote active citizenship without being an active citizen.” And that is exactly why Sixth College’s Coordinator of Student Activities Kati Dickson got involved with UC San Diego’s Volunteer50 initiative. 

Dickson was one of more than 75 volunteers who lent a helping hand at St. Vincent de Paul Village on Nov. 13. Participants pulled weeds, planted flowers, swept sidewalks and spent time in the kitchen preparing lunch for the homeless. 

This was the third group project organized by Volunteer50, a key component of UC San Diego’s 50th anniversary celebration. Chancellor Marye Anne Fox is challenging each member of the university community to perform 50 hours of service during the anniversary year. This group project was put together with the help of UC San Diego’s Center for Student Involvement, Community Law Project and Associated Students.

Many of the student volunteers met on campus and rode together on a shuttle bus to St. Vincent de Paul Village. When they arrived, they were greeted by Chancellor Fox and Vice Chancellor – Student Affairs Penny Rue.

“Thanks for getting up early on a Saturday morning and living out the university’s mission of service,” said Fox. “This is what UC San Diego is all about.”

Chancellor Fox tossing salad
Chancellor Fox helps with lunch preparation by tossing salad.

“It’s important for students to get outside of the university,” said Rue. “We encourage students to use their world-class education to solve the world’s problems and this is an opportunity to take lessons outside of the classroom and put them to work.”

Father Joe even made a special appearance to greet the UC San Diego volunteers. He told them St. Vincent de Paul Village is “a university of human spirit.” 

“In 1982, I got the job to come up with a solution to the growing homeless population in San Diego,” said Father Joe. “We try to think of everything a homeless person or family could need.”

St. Vincent de Paul Village offers a wide range of services – from housing and meals to job-training classes, counseling and a full-service medical and dental clinic, staffed in part by UC San Diego medical students. The organization serves more than 3,000 homeless adults and children each day.  Roughly 900 people live on site. 

“You don’t feel like you’re at a homeless shelter here,” said Father Joe. “When the kids come here with Mom and Dad, and see the fountains and playgrounds, they say ‘we get to stay here?’”

Junior Avniel Naidu was impressed with the Village. “I like what Father Joe said.  It's a nice place to call home. I have done service with the homeless before, but this is different. I saw how beautifying a place can make a change.”

Volunteers Sweeping
Volunteers, including the Mendoza family, swept area sidewalks.

Environmental Health & Safety staff member Dan Mendoza brought his family to the volunteer event, including his wife, Leslie, who works at the Shiley Eye Center, and his sister, Maria Obtera, who works in UC San Diego’s Campus Budget Office. He also brought his children Leann and Mico. The Mendoza family has now participated in all three of UC San Diego’s Volunteer50 group projects.

“I want the kids to realize we’re blessed with what we have and give back,” said Dan Mendoza. “Volunteer50 gives us a place to go and now we can be part of a volunteer group.”

Senior Matt White also likes that Volunteer50 unites the campus and community in service. He worked alongside Chancellor Fox, freshman Matthew Garcia and others in the kitchen to prepare salad.  “I’ve volunteered where it’s a one-time thing and I didn’t feel connected.  The community aspect of Volunteer50 makes a big difference.”

Garcia remarked, “I’m impressed by Chancellor Fox, that she’s demonstrated leadership with the volunteer program and that she physically does the service work too.”

Sana Meghani said she’s grown a lot over the last four years at UC San Diego and now that she’s a senior, she wants to give back to the community that has given her so much.  She also noted, “This is a cool way to celebrate the university’s 50th anniversary.”

Click here for more information about Volunteer50.

Click here to visit the 50th Anniversary website.

 


 



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