Newman Volunteer Corps

	NVC Service Blog Contact NVC - email nvc@newmancentercolumbia.org

Newman Volunteer Corps is a program committed to helping both student and resident parishioners grow in compassion through education, action, reflection and prayer on social justice concerns.  Each month, NVC will offer programming aimed at education, action, reflection and prayer. For education, the NVC Board will choose one theme based on social justice concerns and provide an educational event related to that theme. For action, an event will be planned related to the theme, in addition to encouraging outside service. For reflection, NVC will host a potluck dinner at the end of the month where all will be invited to come together, share food, and reflect on the service they have done. For prayer, all members will be encouraged to pray and reflect upon the reason for their actions.  

Each parishioner is encouraged to pledge the amount of volunteering hours that is possible in a semester.  From those pledges, a total parish pledge will be determined.  Volunteering encompasses service activities and advocacy.  Service that parishioners do individually and communally count!  Hours offered with the Assistance League, the Food Bank, Newman Needleworks, or even as a volunteer soccer coach count!  Hours already required for majors, service-learning classes, or other student organizations count!  Time spent writing to government officials count!  Prayerful protests count!  Newman wants to see what the community is already doing in Columbia so that we can see what else is possible. 

Looking for service opportunities?  NVC has a multitude of servie projects planned each month to make a big impact on our community.  We serve the poor, elderly, homeless, children and our own parish families.  While different events are planned sporadically throughout the year, several service projects will repeat monthly, inlcuding meal preparation for Loaves & Fishes, a soup kitchen in downtown Columbia, and the Ronald McDonald House.  NVC also has information on how to volunteer with Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Habitat for Humanity, and Newman Needleworks.  Check the calendar to find out about current service opportunities.  Also, Newman is proud to host the UMC Homecoming Build for Habitat for Humanity and to be recognized throughout the Columbia community for the contributions of our students who spread the Good News through good work.  Contact NVC at nvc@newmancentercolumbia.org find out what’s coming up and check the weekly email and student bulletin for more information.

 

What the NVC offers to everyone is an opportunity to reflect and pray about volunteer and advocacy experiences in the context of our Catholic faith.  The online service blog offers participants a chance to reflect on their experiences and share them with others in cyberspace.  Monthly potluck dinners will serve to bring participants together to share their experiences, questions, and prayers.  Monthly themes will offer opportunities for speakers and panel discussions related to service.  A Day of Service each semester will bring parishioners together for a prayer service or Mass to then send them out for service in Columbia.   

Spend your spring break serving others in need and learning about the issues that keep them in a cycle of injustice.  Through the Alternative Spring Break program the Newman Center fundraises to send 15-20 students to serve those who are underserved in our Church and our country.  Previous ASB trips have worked with the poor, homeless, immigrants and disaster victims.  Students fundraise for the trip by selling parking spaces in our Newman lot before and during Mizzou's home football games (for information on football parking reservations, please click here).  Because of this, students only have to spend $75 for domestic trips that last an entire week!  Additionally, we will be offering international mission trips every 2-3 years.  The trips will be announced in August (see the bulletin and weekly email for updates).  The deadline to sign up will be in September so that you will have enough time to work the fundraising hours.