NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Albertus Magnus College women's volleyball team did their part for this year's community service initiative and partnered with Hope House Ministries. Hope House Ministries is committed to providing quality care to the poor, marginal, and wounded people that often go unnoticed in society. The organization recognizes every life as sacred and believes that everyone has the right to be respected and protected.
The Albertus Magnus athletic department remains steadfast in its commitment to the four pillars of the college-community, prayer, service, and study. To make-up for a loss of athletic competitions, each of the athletic teams is participating in a different service project, including community clean-up, in-person or virtual athletic lessons, and volunteering efforts.
"I thought that what we did was something really great," said sophomore middle hitter Diana Kalman (Naugatuck, Conn.). "It felt like we were doing something that really made a difference in the community. The things that you guys do for people in need is amazing. Having been through certain things and having seen people go through certain things, I personally really appreciate what goes on and feel really grateful to be able to help."
The volleyball team cleaned out three rooms in the basement of Radio Love in New Haven, which will be used as the primary facility for the Hope House organization to provide and feed for the homeless community. The organization is not fully running in New Haven yet, due to a lack of space, so the volleyball team took the initiative and helped the organization move closer to full functionality in New Haven.
"It was great to witness the team join and help the process of what may have seemed like just cleaning out rooms," said head coach Vanessa Mack. "However, what they started is the beginning of a much bigger picture to help build the organization that will be used to help the homeless community. The team did an amazing job and volunteered with a positive attitude and worked well as a team to complete the task. I am proud of them."
---
About Albertus Magnus College
Albertus Magnus College, founded in 1925, is a Catholic College in the Dominican tradition. It is recognized by external rankings such as US News & World Report Best Colleges, Money Magazine, and the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education. The College has an enrollment of 1,500 students in its traditional undergraduate program, accelerated adult degree programs, and 12 graduate programs, including a new Master of Public Administration and the only Master of Arts in Art Therapy and Counseling program in Connecticut. In the last year, the College received two significant Federal grants in support of student success and well-being: a $300,000 grant from the Department of Justice and a $1.9 million Title III grant from the Department of Education.
