Within 10 minutes a Spring Break Mission Trip was booked at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and a waiting list was developed. “I think the fact that the trip was booked within 10 minutes is very telling of the type of students we have at The Woods.  It is always inspiring to see our young women dedicate their spring break to serving others,” said Jeff Malloy, director of Campus Life.

The mission trip will be held February 27 to March 5. “We are taking 16 students accompanied by three chaperons to New York City.  We will be working in a soup kitchen serving the homeless in the East Village area of Manhattan.  We are staying at Trinity Lower East Side Lutheran Parish and they run the soup kitchen,” said Malloy.

Briauna Davis, a junior and business administration major from Sullivan, Ind., signed up for the trip. “I chose to go on a mission trip for Spring Break because it is something that I do every year. I am very passionate about helping people and it is something I plan on continuing for the rest of my life by going into missions after I graduate,” said Davis.  “I have gone on quite a few mission trips in my life.  It is an indescribable experience.  Every time I go on a mission trip, I come back with a completely different outlook on life. It is an experience that affects you in many different ways.”

Sophomore Jordan Pirsch, a psychology major from Terre Haute said, “I have never been to New York before, and I am very excited to be able to go!  Helping to serve in the soup kitchens makes me feel like I am being a good citizen. It also helps me to realize that there are many people in need, and I am happy that I can do my part in order to help them.”

Several of the Woods women have already been serving in their own communities or on previous mission trips. “I've worked in soup kitchens several times from local ones such as the Light House Mission, to others in other cities and states on mission trips,” said business administration major and junior Erin Pugh of Terre Haute.  “I expect to see people who are in need and perhaps are in a slump in their lives and just need a hand up. I feel it's important to help those less fortunate than you and give back when you can.”

Pirsch also spent her Spring Break last year participating in a mission trip to Louisiana with the College.  “From my experience this year, I expect to be enlightened in a spiritual sense, and to meet people who I probably never would have met without this trip. I also expect to become a lot closer to my fellow Woodsies and hopefully to make lifelong friendships, like I did last year.”

Besides working in the soup kitchen and serving the homeless in Manhattan, the students will visit the Empire State Building, Ground Zero, Times Square, St. Patricks Cathedral, and other popular New York City sights. “I've never been to New York City before and I'm so excited to experience the big city life and take the subways. I'm excited to experience the food and culture of the city and to see either a Broadway show or a professional hockey game,” said Pugh.