This year's Vincentian Service Day sent forth almost 500 student and staff volunteers across the city on Saturday, May 4, to share their time and talents to assist more than 30 community partner organizations. Volunteers helped to plant gardens, landscape park playgrounds, sort books for inmates and help clean and organize. VSD began with a rally in Lincoln Park before the students and staff boarded buses and trains or walked to their service sites. After a day of community service, collaboration and camaraderie, the volunteers returned to Lincoln Park Campus for a well-deserved lunch. (Photos by Keeton Holder & Maria Toscano/DePaul University)
Students dressed as St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac kicked off Vincentian Service Day with an opening rally before volunteers headed out to their service sites.
Students watch the program at the opening rally to mark the start of Vincentian Service Day.
Students dressed as St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac take a selfie with DePaul Community members at the pre-service rally.
Students prepare a meal for clients at Lincoln Park Community Services.
Students build connections while cooking for clients at Lincoln Park Community Services.
Students spread fresh mulch to make improvements to the children's playground at Humbert Park.
DePaul students, faculty, and staff prepare the ground for corn to be planted in a garden bed at Gingko Organic Garden.
Volunteers dig holes to plant this season's crop of corn at Gingko Organic Garden.
A DePaul student sorts reading material that will be sent to inmates as one of the services offered by Midwest Books for Prisoners.
Students, faculty, and staff take time for reflection after their service at the Dr. David Darst Center, a social justice education retreat center.
DePaul community members connect while on a break during their service work at the Gingko Organic Garden. (DePaul University/Keeton Holder)
DePaul students, faculty, and staff pose for a group photo after sharing in a day of service and community in the Ginko Organic Garden.
After a day of community service, DePaul volunteers returned to Lincoln Park Campus to enjoy the post-VSD luncheon.
Students and staff share stories of their Vincentian Service Day experience while enjoying their well-deserved lunch.