Local Student Joins Mission Trip

Sarah Nelson of Morris Plains is among the Misericordia University students, faculty and staff  volunteering March 3 through 10 at Mercy Neighborhood Ministries of Philadelphia, Inc., as part of a series of spring break service trips organized and sponsored by Campus Ministry.

The Sisters of Mercy-operated facility is a working partnership between the working poor of the Tioga and Nicetown communities and the Religious Sisters of Mercy, who also founded and sponsor Misericordia University. Together, they have been providing adult and childcare programs for more than 35 years and continues to strengthen and support families through its promise: “Neighbor helping neighbor. Transforming lives one person at a time.’’

The focus of the Ministries is to identify needs not being met by other groups in the North Philadelphia communities, to respond to those needs over time and fulfill them in a collaborative way. In 2009, the Ministries opened the Mercy Family Center, the only “green’’ building in that section of the city. The 32,000-square-feet of space is used for four children’s classrooms, an adult activity room, a state-of-the-art computer lab, an all-purpose room, dining room, warming kitchen and three conference rooms.

The programs offered at the Mercy Family Center include a licensed day care program for school-aged children, a licensed adult day care program for the elderly and people with special needs, an adult education and human development program that provides education services, computer training, workforce development and spiritual and leadership development for women, and a health and wellness program.

The 12 members of the MU campus community volunteering at Mercy Neighborhood Ministries of Philadelphia, include students Sarah Nelson, Sarah West of Allentown, Pa.; Rachel Brooks of Shillington, Pa.; Marty Castaldi of Scranton, Pa.; Kayla Darcey of Hillsdale, N.J.; Gabby Diulio of Newburgh, N.Y.; Alice Messler of Waverly, Pa.; Molly Harleman of Lehighton, Pa., Jon Frye of Scranton, Pa., and Catie Becker of Shickshinny, Pa. Chaperones are Darci Brown, director of clinical education for the Physician Assistant Program, and Helen Bogdon, senior secretary of mathematics and natural sciences.

Overall, 72 members of MU’s campus community fanned out across the country to offer their time and talent for the betterment of others. Students, faculty and staff also are participating in service efforts in Sacramento, Calif., Spokane, Wash., Benson, Vt., and Schenectady, N.Y. during spring break.

For more information about Misericordia University, log in to www.misericordia.edu or call (570) 674-6400. Founded and Sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy in 1924, Misericordia University is Luzerne County’s first four-year college and offers 37 degree programs in three colleges in full- and part-time formats.