Students from the University of Akron’s RooCatholic Newman Ministry took part in the Diocesan Day of Service earlier this month.
Christa Alaburda, campus ministry director, said some students volunteered their time to assist at the Peter Maurin Center in Akron. They took food and supplies out to they homeless tent camps in the area.
The nonprofit Peter Maurin Center is an outreach ministry in South Akron. According to its website, the center’s mission is “to service the community through God’s love and grace.” It opened in 2008. The center has a relationship with the Catholic parishes in Summit County. It offers a food pantry, hot meals, outreach, overnight stays, a scholarship fund, bus pass program, bike program, grocery delivery, emergency lodging, health care screenings and information.
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Joann Rymarczyk-Piotrkowski, director of Newman Catholic Campus Ministry, said the College of Wooster and Ashland University collaborated on their servicer project. Students sorted clothing for babies and children for the Gabriel Project, a ministry of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Wooster.
Mikayla Metzger of Newman Catholic Ministry, said the students enjoyed the project so much that they want to set up regular volunteer times and plan to recruit their friends to help with the ministry.