- Prayer and Worship
- Retreats
- Community Service
- CSTAT
- • Unified for UNIFAT
- • Poverty Week / Food Drive
- • Shantytown
- CARING COUGARS
- • CASH
- • Freshmen Service Days
- • Relay for Life
- MENTORING / AFTER SCHOOL
- • Fitness Friendzy
- • Reach for the Stars
- • Bigs for Kids
- • Sts. Peter & Paul Academy
- • Big Sis Saturdays
- SERVICE IMMERSION
- • Liberty, KY
- • Urban Plunge
- SERVICE FAIR
- SUMMER SERVICE
Mount Notre Dame
Providing a challenging, college-preparatory curriculum for young women over three centuries.
Urban Plunge - St. Vincent DePaul
St. Vincent DePaul Over-the-Rhine Urban Plunge - Summer 2012
MND and St. Vincent De Paul Over-the-Rhine Urban Plunge is an opportunity for you to connect with people from diverse backgrounds in our own city. Participants will be living at the SVDP headquarters near downtown Cincinnati, in the West End, and we will learn first-hand about issues of social justice and poverty in Cincinnati by spending time with the people served by St. Vincent De Paul.
Some of the activities we may do include:
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Make home visits with St. Vincent de Paul members - Preparing and sharing a meal with residents of the West End or Over-the-Rhine
- Participating in a hip-hop dance class
- Having group reflection and prayer
- Doing volunteer work at St. Vincent de Paul, the Freestore Foodbank, and Our Daily Bread
The Summer 2012 experience will be either 4-5 days in length, and will take place the week of July 8 - 14, 2012
Contact Mr. Todd Forman (tforman@mndhs.org) for more information.
Reflections from past participants:
The Urban Plunge with SVDP taught me, among many things, the undeniable gift of generosity and the importance in developing humility. From sunrise to sunset, exposure to Over the Rhine and its poverty never ceased to encourage reflection on my own, spoiled life I have always had. Complaining in the morning about getting up early now sounds ridiculous to me. Once I realized that people in Over the Rhine raced each morning to get a simple meal or single piece of furniture, I’ve taught myself to discontinue my monotonous complaints. It is hard to say whether or not I have EVER experienced a great hardship. I compared myself to the singer we met who worked her way through a rough childhood to now start as a singer with a fellow guitar –player who share their music with those around Cincinnati. Learning how to approach and talk with the poor downtown, especially those I met at the soup kitchen, has definitely affected by life in such a positive way! - Katie, 2013
The Urban Plunge with SVPD taught me about me city, it opened up my eyes to places I wouldve been scared to walk in before. It taught me that not everyone can help the fact that they are poor, it taught me to not even look at the situation that led them to being poor, it taught me too look into the hearts of people I would never imagine and see the good in them like God wants us to. It taught me that even the tiniest bit of work can impact someone in a huge way. Just a simple hello can make a persons day, that little acts of kindness can make the world go round. - Meghan, 2014
The Urban Plunge with SVDP taught me to truly appreciate what I have. Before going on the Urban Plunge, I didn't even stop to think about how much I have and how lucky I am. Now, because of the Urban Plunge, I have gained experience that has completely changed my level of gratitude for everything I have been given. It also opened my eyes to poverty and how hard people work just to survive. After meeting people who live in Over-the-Rhine, I know if I were put in their situation, I probably wouldn't make it. The Urban Plunge showed me how beautiful the city of Cincinnati really is. I had just never taken the time to look until now. - Gina, 2012
The Urban Plunge with SVDP taught me that just how important neccessities such as medication, furniture, food, and clothing are. Obviously we need them, but the demand is so great, but not everyone has proper access to them. For us it’s so easy. We walk through the steps of acquiring these things without even thinking. We don’t need to really plan out our budget for things. Some don’t have the luxury of having a car to get what they need as well. Often people put the immediate needs first. Such as getting them clothing and making sure they have a roof over their heads and this could lead to the parent neglecting their own health, which should be the first priority. If the parent is not healthy enough to take care of themselves, how can they take care of the family? Everyone should have the confidence that their family will go to bed and wake up healthy. But this just isn’t realistic for many. - Erin, 2012