Kicking off the first Service Trip of the year, a group of 20 students traveled to the Windy City to volunteer at Chicago’s YMCA in Humboldt Park. The group spent the day assisting with the YMCA’s Produce Day, enjoying Chicago-style pizza, sightseeing, and bonding with new University of Illinois students.
The group arrived early on Saturday morning for Produce Day, a monthly service event dedicated to donating goods to those in need. Though they did not arrive in time to help unload the trucks, trip participants distributed items consisting of food goods, clothing, and other household items to community members. OVP Staff Member, Gabby Castellanos, said one of the most memorable experiences for her was meeting Sr. Stephanie, the trip contact at the YMCA. She said, “Sr. Stephanie was a blast. She’s an alum and was very excited to have us there, and we were all just feeding off her energy.”
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After volunteering at Produce Day, the group went to Chicago’s Exchequer Restaurant and Pub to enjoy some of Chicago’s famous pizza and wind down after a long morning of service. Gabby says, “The dining time gave us an opportunity to bond, and afterwards I feel like we were all meshing well. We were cracking jokes and making conversation.”
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Sightseeing in Chicago started at Cloud Gate, known to locals as the Bean, followed by the Art Institute, where students were able to see beautiful exhibits such as the Modern Wing and the Miniature Room, and ended at Navy Pier, a 3,300-foot-long pier on the Great Lake.
