Stretch your heart this summer through volunteer service opportunities!
Stretch Your Heart is an annual summer
volunteer service program for single women, ages 18–40, sponsored by the four USA provinces of the Sisters of Notre Dame. The five-day service program
includes outreach to those in need, personal and communal prayer, and sharing
community life with the sisters.
Stretch Your Heart volunteer experiences have included: outreach to women and children in transition, services to refugees, GED tutoring (for high school graduate equivalency degree), serving at hunger centers, soup kitchens, migrant ministry, Bible camp, elder care, and Habitat for Humanity projects. Opportunities vary from summer to summer.
Sharing your time and talents can be a great way to help those in need, use your abilities in new ways, meet new people, and get to know some of our sisters. Come, "stretch your heart" with us!
The
summer volunteer experiences for 2010 are:
Jacksonville, Florida
June 5–13, 2010
Assist with tutoring, library help, soup kitchen
Contact: Sister Marilyn Marie Ellerbrock, SND; mellerbrock@toledosnd.org
Sheffield Township, Ohio
June 27–July 2, 2010
Work with children in a crisis care facility
Contact: Sister Kathleen Mary Hine, SND: khine@ndec.org
Leipsic, Ohio
July 11–16, 2010
Assist with migrant ministry, tutor children, visit homes
Contact: Sister Marilyn Marie Ellerbrock, SND; mellerbrock@toledosnd.org
Bakersfield, California
July 12–16, 2010
Participate in a week-long immersion experience focusing on justice issues, direct service to the poor and pilgrimage
Contact: Sister Valerie Marie Roxburgh, SND; sistervalsnd@gmail.com
Dayton, Ohio
July 19–24, 2010
Offer remedial instruction/tutoring to disadvantaged children in the inner city
Contact: Sister Jean Marie Hoffman, SND; jhoffman@dcchome.org
Other volunteer service opportunities can be arranged by contacting one of the
sisters listed above.
Some comments from volunteers about the program:
“It is a good thing that we experience God in all of life, not just in the ways that are familiar or most comfortable.”
“My heart has been stretched far beyond where I thought possible. The patience, gratitude and knowledge that I obtained from this experience are priceless. The more I gave, the more love and joy I got back.”
“The time I spent with the migrant families made me realize the variety of ways I could use my social work skills and education to advocate for the migrant population in the future.”
“I realize how lucky I am to have the opportunities I do. Now that I am more aware of the world of others, I can serve God and his people better.”
“I am naturally given to thinking of myself first. This experience has showed me in a way like no other how blessed I am. I know how much the children have helped bring more joy and purpose to my life.”
“I’ve always loved kids, working with others and service. This was not the "stretch" for me. The stretch came in trusting that God would take care of what we needed to do. The sisters showed me how to hear God’s answers and respond with compassion. That is a gift that stretches much longer than a week.”
Service opportunities are wonderful ways to explore the meaning and purpose of life, help others in need and find joy in sharing the experience with other volunteers. Involvement in service also looks great on resumés.
We continue to pray for all of our volunteers and for those who will join us this summer for Stretch Your Heart.
Find out more about Stretch Your Heart.
Volunteer opportunities are available for those who do not fit this program description, and also for those wishing to serve in other countries. Contact one of our volunteer
coordinators for more information, or fill out the form on our More Information page.
