Something extraordinary happens when the Bronco family comes together to help the community. Need hygiene kits for the homeless? The Santa Clara clan steps up. How about some help at an event supporting mothers and children in need? Alumni lend a hand. One thousand brown bag lunches for the food insecure? Broncos find a way.
And that’s exactly what happened Nov. 12. Forty-five alumni, their families, friends and SCU staff descended on Bannan Alumni House to make lunches for Loaves and Fishes Family Kitchen to distribute to people experiencing homelessness.
Volunteers divided into groups and manned their stations working assembly line-style, passing lunch sacks around the room until they were filled and placed in crates for delivery. Ninety minutes later, this dedicated team had prepared more than 1,000 brown bag lunches for hungry community members in Santa Clara County.
This is just one of many examples of Broncos giving back through the Alumni Association’s Alumni for Others (AFO) program, led by Sarah Bonini J.D. ’93, assistant director of service and spirituality. In just a month’s time, more than 150 Broncos are serving or preparing thousands of meals for vulnerable community members in six different cities across the country including, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Portland, San Francisco, and San Jose.
“Service was always a huge part of what attracted me to Santa Clara and now I’m excited to give back as an alumna,” said Stephanie Johnson ’94.
“The need to help our communities exists all year round,” explained Bonini. “So alumni participate in service opportunities across the country both during the holidays and throughout the year. In the words of St. Ignatius, ‘Love ought to show itself in deeds more than words.’”
Visit the AFO website to volunteer at an AFO service project or host one in your area.
Learn more about what Alumni For Others has accomplished.