Students from St. Ambrose University campus ministry in Davenport clean toys during a service trip to East St. Louis, Ill. during their spring break last month.
By Anne Marie Amacher
The Catholic Messenger
DAVENPORT — Ten St. Ambrose University students spent their spring break not on a beach but on service trips to assist people living in poverty, without homes, or who are single moms.
Nicky Gant, the university’s service and justice coordinator, said one group of six students, Campus Minister Tammy Norcross-Reitzler and Chaplain Father Dale Mallory, traveled to Good Samaritans Ministries of the Metro East in East St. Louis, Illinois.
“They also served with Catholic Urban Programs and learned about Sisterhood of Hope, a non-profit organization founded by St. Ambrose alumni Briana Morales, who was inspired by her spring break service trip,” Gant said. The State of Illinois honored Morales as Teacher of the Year for her work with youths impacted by gun violence in East St. Louis. “This was our first trip back to East St. Louis since COVID,” Gant said. “We’ll definitely be going back.”
Aidan Clausen, a freshman exercise science major, said the service trip was “a unique opportunity for me. I was eager to learn about East St. Louis and to support the individuals and families in the community in a way that went beyond my usual volunteer work.”
“Each day, we helped in preparing and serving meals for individuals and families in need. After serving, we gathered the leftover food and delivered it to a nearby area where people would gather. We also had the opportunity to take a tour led by two (religious) sisters who shared their knowledge about the community in East St. Louis,” Clausen said.
The St. Ambrose volunteers organized clothing donations, cleaned up the work area and offered support as needed. “One of the highlights was engaging with local children in an after-school program, playing basketball and participating in other activities that brought joy to both the kids and me,” Clausen said. The group also participated in an afternoon program that Morales led.
Clausen said a service trip highlight was meeting Benjamin. “We met him while delivering food and he was one of the kindest people I’ve ever encountered. Despite his challenging circumstances, as he was waiting for a heart transplant, he was filled with joy and kindness. He asked us to pray for him and, in return, he promised to pray for us. His positivity and kindness, given everything he was going through, left a lasting impression on me.”
Father Mallory served as a chaperone, presided at daily Mass and provided spiritual care. “My goal was to see how St. Ambrose serves others through service trips.” He said the campus ministry team might add service trips because of the successful spring break trips.
When he was a University of Iowa student, he worked in the kitchen that served 10,000 meals a day. So, cooking on the trip was “not a big deal” for him. “I guided the students whether it was on spirituality or food.” He said the people that St. Ambrose students served “were very appreciative. We were able to see different groups in action — all of whom help people.” Although violence is a challenge in East St. Louis, the people struggling with poverty are trying their best to make it through each day, Father Mallory said. “They do not choose to be poor.” He appreciated seeing the students helping others.
A group of four students led by campus ministry graduate assistant Brynn Beenblossom, served single moms and their children, who would otherwise be facing homelessness, at The Well of Mercy in Chicago.
Ellie Seberger, sophomore public relations and communications major, heard about the service trip at Mass and More. “I was really looking for an opportunity to serve in a unique way and this trip provided that. I was also super excited for this experience from a pro-life perspective. As the president of our pro-life club on campus, this experience seemed like a really great opportunity to be with these mothers.”
The group took a riverboat tour with the moms and bonded with them while checking out downtown Chicago. “We also went to the Shedd Aquarium with the moms and their kids. Within the house, we cleaned, organized and helped with the babies and kids,” Seberger said.
“We were so welcomed by them … We really formed close connections,” she said. “One of the main things that stood out to me was just how blessed I am. To see their living conditions and maybe be shocked by it at first really made me so grateful for all the blessings in my life.”
Beenblossom, a first-year graduate speech-language pathology major, went to Well of Mercy two years ago on a spring break service trip. “When Tammy asked me to lead this one, I was eager to say yes. It is so beautiful to be a part of something bigger than yourself and to be able to see a difference you are making in other people’s lives.”
“Everything we did in Chicago we did with the women we served, which was incredibly special. An overall highlight was exploring the city with the women and watching them being able to have a day of fun. Another highlight (because I cannot just choose one), was spending time with the little babies, getting to love on them, and cuddle with them.”
