GMercyU Celebrates Presidential Inauguration with Day of Service

Gwynedd Mercy University hosted a Day of Service as part of its weeklong Presidential Inauguration festivities on Monday, April 9. Members of the GMercyU Community, including students, faculty, staff and the leadership team packaged more than 15,000 meals which will be sent to Burkina Faso, West Africa through Catholic Relief Services' Helping Hands Program.

Catholic Relief Services' Helping Hands Program aims to serve the vulnerable in two ways. The first is by sending immediate hunger relief through the form of packaged meals. The other is by funding sustainable, income-generating projects to prevent hunger long-term. The funds raised through GMercyU's Day of Service were put towards both the packaged meals and sustainable projects for the people in Burkina Faso.

"As we were preparing the week's events, having a day where we took a moment to reflect on our core values of service and social justice was important," President D'Emilio said. "Partnering with an organization such as Catholic Relief Services was the perfect way to bring the GMercyU Community together."

In addition to the meal preparation, a Prayer Walk telling the story of global hunger in Burkina Faso and around the world was set up in Rotelle Lounge and Griffins were able to sample the meal as it will be prepared. There was also an advocacy station set up where Griffins were able to send electronic letters to legislators, urging for support for the international food security programs.