How we make a difference

Serving others is an integral part of Saint Joseph's. Our students, faculty and staff are committed to service, and they live it out in many ways.

Service connected with academics, athletics and campus ministry is an important part of student life and learning at Saint Joseph's. Each year more than 800 students contribute over 30,000 hours of service to more than 40 schools, hospitals, nonprofits and agencies in Maine, other states and abroad.

We strive to make a difference through:

Guatemala Service Trip

A service project in Guatemala in which students volunteer in a health clinic and with a homebuilding crew for a week between fall and spring semesters.

Spring Break Workfest

St. Joe's students volunteer their services in low-income areas during March break as an alternative to the traditional spring break vacation.

Catherine’s Cupboard

A local food pantry founded by the office of Campus Ministry, Pearson’s Café, and the Town of Standish as a service mission of the College within Standish.

Lend a Hand Program

Pearson’s Café, our dining service, along with 30 volunteers from staff, faculty and students feed local families Thanksgiving dinner. The volunteers deliver meals, set the table, carve the turkey and visit with the recipients.

Habitat for Humanity

Saint Joseph's has an active student chapter which help out at local Habitat for Humanity sites, and every year during spring break they help near the New York City chapter. This spring, 25 students joined the Habitat for Humanity chapter on campus for the annual Shak-A-Thon, where students spend a night out on the campus green in cardboard houses to demonstrate the dire state of homeless people. They raised more than $500 for the national Habitat program.

Annual Toy Drive

Campus Ministry collects toys from the College community and at a children's concert. These toys are distributed at Christmas to needy families in the community.

In their own words