University teams up with Tricentennial Commission, Catholic Charities of San Antonio

Hundreds of St. Mary’s University students will volunteer across San Antonio on Saturday, Feb. 17, for Continuing the Heritage – an official Tricentennial Serve 300 SA Day event and part of Catholic Charities of San Antonio‘s second annual “40 Days of Service” campaign to promote service during Lent.

The biannual service day brings together University students, faculty, staff and alumni to volunteer for community projects, such as graffiti abatement, yard work, packaging and delivering food and clothing for the poor, and working with children and animals.

Since 1997, about 12,000 volunteers have offered more than 50,000 hours to organizations that provide much-needed services throughout the area. Online registration began Wednesday, Feb. 7.

San Antonio volunteers will gather on the Flex Field at The Park at St. Mary’s at 7:30 a.m. for an opening ceremony, which includes breakfast and prayer, before beginning their afternoon of service. From 9 a.m.-noon, they will serve at sites including:

  • Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower’s Garden of St. Therese at 1111 Culebra Road. Volunteers will assist with a community garden.
  • Catholic Charities at 1801 W. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd. Volunteers will create space for incoming food, then unload, sort and stock food.
  • San Antonio Food Bank at 5200 W. Old US Highway 90. Students will work together to sort and/or pack produce, nonperishable foods and household items, preparing them for distribution.
  • Basura Bash at Alazan Creek, Martinez Creek Trailway and Zarzamora Creek. Students will participate in the largest single-day waterway cleanup in Texas, providing community education about water pollution and nature preservation.
  • Family Service Association at 3014 Rivas St. Students will help clean, sort and inventory items – toys, toiletries, diapers, wipes, car seats and other child supplies – donated to Margaret’s Place and Margaret’s Place Too for families in crisis.
  • St. Mary’s University Community Garden. Students will help maintain a neighborhood community garden on 36th Street.

More about 40 Days of Service

In the spirit of Pope Francis’ “Year of Mercy” and the Lenten season, Catholic Charities and the Catholic community of San Antonio joined together in 2016 for a new campaign called 40 Days of Service. The goal is for every Catholic school and university in the archdiocese to commit to service during Lent and for participants to have a meaningful service experience by offering their time and talent to assist people in need.

Service opportunities include mentoring, organizing donation drives, stocking food donations, tutoring children, distributing food, painting, landscaping and assisting veterans and seniors.

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