A Trip To Albany Strengthened The Bonds Of ‘Do-Gooders’

By Shannon Hicks

There are some folks who would be offended to be called a “do-gooder.”

For one group of young adults who call St Rose of Lima their church home, however, they wear that label proudly.

God’s Do-Gooders was established at St Rose about four years ago, and has been part of the Roman Catholic church’s youth ministry since. Two years ago the group of high school students traveled on a mission trip for the first time, and last month the current incarnation of God’s Do-Gooders returned to Albany, N.Y., to help homeowners and others who needed a hand with home repairs, food service, and even artistic expression at a children’s center.

The Do-Gooders meet once monthly during the school year.

“We’ve played Bingo at the Homesteads, participated in Habitat For Humanity projects, visited a women’s shelter in Danbury, and brought dinner to Shelter of the Cross,” said Jenn Dunseith, one of the group’s adult leaders. “We’re also in the process of finding more things to do, more groups to help.”

By joining the group, students commit to service of others. “Through our devotion to Jesus, and by his example, we go out into our community to share Christ’s life and light with others,” the group’s mission states in part.

God’s Do-Gooders are middle and high school students, but they must have finished at least their first year of high school in order to travel to Albany.

Fifteen young adults and their group leaders — Eileen and Jenn Dunseith, Joe DeMaida, and Kelly Blessey — left from the St Rose church parking lot before 8 am on Monday, July 13. They spent the next six days at The College of Saint Rose, which has served as the group’s home away from home before, and worked with five different groups during the course of the week.

The group arrived in Albany by early Monday afternoon, and a short while later attended Mass at Our Lady of Martyrs Shrine in Auriesville, home to one of the first circular churches in the United States. The group also had time on Monday to explore the campus and prepare for what was coming during the rest of the week.

Tuesday was spent working with The JC Club. Run by Victory Christian Church, the club prepares and hands out healthy lunches to hundreds of children in the Albany area every day.

“You don’t realize how many 900 sandwiches is,” said Dan Cragin, a Do-Gooder who will be a senior at Newtown High School this fall. “It took all day to make and bag those lunches, and then get them out to everyone.”

Once the sandwiches were delivered, however, the group had time to meet and play with some of the children who benefit from The JC Club’s efforts.

Wednesday’s assignment was to organize an art room and adjacent closet at The Albany Boys and Girls Club. The Do-Gooders also painted a room that was designated for storage space. This was the first time the group had volunteered for the club.

Thursday was spent at The Emmaus House, which Jenn Dunseith has had contact with since her freshman year in college. A 2008 graduate of the College of Saint Rose, Jenn was enjoying a visit from her mother four summers ago when the women made the decision that Albany would be the location for The Do-Gooders to do their mission work.

“Joe and I were already working with youth groups, and the kids approached us and said they wanted some kind of service trip,” said Eileen. “Four years ago, when Jenn was still a student at the college, I went out for coffee and saw all the homeless people here.

“I went back to Jenn and said ‘This is where we’re going to help,’” she recalled. One year later, in 2007, God’s Do-Gooders visited Albany for the first time and they relied on many of Jenn’s contacts from her college days to get them in touch with people who would appreciate the help.

“I’ve worked with Fred Boehrer and The Emmaus House since my freshman year,” said Jenn. “I can call him now and tell him when we’re coming and he’s just like ‘OK, looking forward to it.’”

The Emmaus House provides hospitality for homeless families, usually one at a time and often from outside the United States, as well as support such as food, clothing, and advocacy to families in the community. The thinking is that this type of service teaches alternatives to the traditional human services model, as well as root causes of poverty and basic immigration issues.

The Newtown group spent part of their Thursday at The Emmaus House, mulching and cleaning its community garden and flower beds.

“Thursday was also [group member] Tyler Davenport’s birthday and when we mentioned that to Fred, he sent us to The Grand Street Community Arts Center,” said Eileen Dunseith. “As a surprise for Tyler, we went there and had the kids there welcomed him and the group.

“We told them it was his birthday and we had balloons and bubbles, a bean bag toss, and an egg toss game,” she continued. “We played games with them for an hour and a half. Tyler told us later that it was one of his best birthdays ever.”

“We really want to work with them again,” Jenn said of the arts center. “There is such a need. They don’t have anything available for these kids most of the time, and yet they’re supposed to be an arts center.”

Jenn is already planning a trip back to Albany within the month. She has asked for some help from the St Rose Knights of Columbus, who operate a Toy Closet year-round, and she will be bringing art supplies and some games with her.

The final day of the work week was spent at a new location for The Do-Gooders, The Ronald McDonald House. The teens spent their day cooking, cleanings, organizing, dusting, and vacuuming the 16-bedroom house.

“It’s a huge house,” said Dan Cragin. “That was a busy day.”

While the week was spent working during each day, the Newtown group had time to spend socializing and enjoying each other’s company. They were housed in two of the on-campus buildings, and had time for various activities, games, discussions, and free time during their week in New York.

“I think everyone had a good experience,” said Dan. “We were one big group, with no cliques, which was very nice.

“As we reflected, we felt we’d become a family, with the adults our parents,” he said.

“We always come back a little stronger, with new contacts and projects in mind,” said Jenn Dunseith.