Service is a core value of Newman University that is lived out each semester, both on and off campus.
On April 17, several students, faculty and staff traveled to the Kansas Food Bank near downtown Wichita to participate in a Newman service day.
According to its website, the Kansas Food Bank’s mission is to “provide comprehensive and compassionate HungerCare whenever and wherever it is needed” to food-insecure Kansas families, children, senior citizens, the unhoused populations, chronically ill and impoverished.
Together, members of the Newman community contributed 68 service hours sorting, bagging and packaging potatoes donated from the Navajo Nation in New Mexico. Of those, 13 Newman staff members donated 36 volunteer hours, eight students donated 26 hours and three faculty members and administration donated six hours.
Seniors Ashley Dinh and Kenny Huie volunteered for every available time slot.
Huie said volunteering at the Food Bank was his way of embodying Newman’s mission to transform society.
“Even actions as simple as bagging potatoes can have a profound impact on our community and bring people together,” Huie said. “What made the experience even more rewarding and enjoyable was the togetherness that came with having other people from Newman to volunteer with to help feed those in need. I think this project showed the mission and spirit of Newman in action.”
I think this project showed the mission and spirit of Newman in action.
Kenny Huie, Newman senior
For Dinh, service has been engrained into her Newman University experience through various volunteer opportunities, including her participation in Circle K International and writing a grant to re-introduce recycling on campus.
“Catholicism preaches the idea of service above self,” Dinh said. “However, practicing that principle is the only true way to embody it.”
By participating in Newman’s service day, Dinh and fellow community members made an impact while learning more about food sustainability efforts during Earth Week.
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