Quincy University holds a day of service every year with one primary goal: to give back to the community that supports the school, regardless of the circumstances. In an event rooted in the school’s Franciscan values, it provides both students and staff with an opportunity to step out of their comfort zone and instill change in the community. From gathering food for different centers around Quincy to community beautification and even rebuilding the university’s campus, the day of service is something that students look forward to.

The Hawks’ NCAA football team was tasked to run a food drive for the St. Claire’s center. While some stayed on campus to collect food for the community, others ventured out to the grocery stores in Quincy to gather donations from shoppers.

Nash Kell, a Hawks football player, took the opportunity to bond with people in the Quincy community.

“You come to serve the community, but along the way, you end up meeting the kind of people who restore your faith in it. I got to meet the people who make this community something special,” Kell said.

The men’s soccer team visited a familiar location, as they went to Quincy Junior High School to assist in the learning process. Students there had the opportunity to meet college students while learning different concepts from the team.

John Drew, a men’s soccer player, says the experience is something that he always looks forward to.

“Volunteering at Quincy Junior High School taught me that sometimes the most significant impact isn’t in what you give but in the unexpected friendships you make with the students who remind you why you showed up in the first place,” Drew said.

Women’s lacrosse spent time with the golden generation of Quincy, as they visited the Quincy Senior and Family Resource Center. While they got to have conversations and meals with senior citizens and chat about their lives.

MaryGrace Cummings, a junior lacrosse player, believes that these moments need to be cherished no matter what.

“Serving at the Senior Center reminded me that wisdom doesn’t just come from age, it comes from the conversations shared across generations and the unexpected friendships formed along the way,” Cummings said.