Mercy Mondays: Evelyn Alejandro ’21 shares her service story

My Service Story – by Evelyn Alejandro ’21 

I got involved with the Office of Community Service and Engagement because I fundamentally believe it is important to give back, especially in the communities I live in. I once was in a position where I needed a heavy dose of help and support, and thankfully received it, and I am now in a position where I can help — so I do and will continue to do so.

Evelyn Alejandro ’21 is pictured on the right.

I have been on multiple Service Plunge experiences at Salve Regina, and I was once even a Service Plunge facilitator. Kathleen Rendos and Kelly Powers from the Office of Community Engagement and Service do amazing work on and off Aquidneck island, and they encouraged me to be a service advocate. Overall, I have 225 hours of volunteer service time logged with the office, and I have done plenty of hours off the books.

One hundred of those service hours have been dedicated to serving Donovan Manor residents, which are apartments for senior citizens. Our elderly need company, fun, and events to look forward to. During my sophomore year, I went over weekly to play games and invited other Salve Regina community members to join me. I loved hearing their life stories and making sure they knew they had someone who would listen. Unfortunately, I stopped being a service advocate because I studied abroad my junior year.

This past semester, I started a paid internship with the company Rent Sons. Their values strongly align with ours here at Salve Regina, and they asked me to create a community service event. I immediately thought of my friends at Donovan Manor, so I created a Fall Clean Up event that Rent Sons employees, Salve Regina students and senior residents could participate in. We cleaned the front and sides of the building, and Rent Sons provided us with the tools needed and Salve Regina students came to give their helping hands.

I was so happy to see so many familiar people at Donovan Manor. It felt a little different due to social distancing, masks and gloves, but it felt so good to be volunteering again and to have pulled the event off. It was great to get people outside and helping a population that has been so isolated because of COVID-19.

Alejandro is from Avon, Connecticut. She is a double major in global studies and sociology and anthropology, as well as a double minor in food Studies and economics. 

Other news from the Office of Community Service and Engagement

Service Plunge 2.0 volunteer retreat is April 9-11. Participants have the opportunity to work closely with different issues facing the community, and participation is on a first come, first serve basis. Please apply here.

This post is part of an ongoing series called Mercy Mondays that highlights Salve Regina’s dedication to its Mercy Mission. Search the tag Mercy Mission for more updates on the Mercy branches of Salve Regina.