Eastern Mennonite University’s (EMU) Y-Serve program continued its long-standing tradition of service learning trips over spring break, sending students to engage in meaningful work and cultural exchange in both Atlanta, Georgia, and West Virginia. These trips, embodying the Y-Serve motto of being “the hands and feet of Jesus,” offered students profound experiences in diverse communities.
For Sara Kennel, an EMU sophomore, the Atlanta trip resonated deeply with her past experiences. Having spent a gap year in Guatemala and Ecuador, working with service programs and immersing herself in Latin American cultures, the flavors and conversations in Atlanta transported her back. “Certain food smells or conversations we would have in Spanish — they would take me back,” Kennel, a global development major, reflected. The Y-Serve trip provided a unique blend of familiar and new experiences, including meals with families from Central and South America and a distinct Burundian congregation gathering.
Y-Serve group in Atlanta.
Led by University Chaplain Brian Martin Burkholder, Kennel and nine other EMU students dedicated their spring break week (March 2-8) to service in Atlanta through Y-Serve. Y-Serve, EMU’s oldest student organization, is dedicated to fostering a spirit of service and putting faith into action.
Y-Serve members share a meal during their service trip, fostering community.
Atlanta: Cultural Immersion and Community Engagement with Y-Serve
In Atlanta, the Y-Serve group partnered with Casa Alterna, a nonprofit organization committed to welcoming and supporting asylum seekers and immigrant families. This partnership allowed students to participate in multicultural worship services, share meals with asylees from Latin America and Africa, and listen to their compelling life stories. These interactions offered profound insights into the challenges and resilience of displaced communities, enriching the Y-Serve students’ understanding of global issues.
Y-Serve volunteers engage in housing improvement projects during their Atlanta service trip.
Y-Serve students connecting with asylees from Latin America and Africa, listening to their stories.
The Y-Serve itinerary also included a visit to the International Community School, a public charter school serving refugee, immigrant, and local children. This visit highlighted the importance of inclusive education and provided a glimpse into the diverse student body of Atlanta. Furthermore, the group explored downtown Atlanta and the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Park, grounding their service work in the context of civil rights history and social justice. A journey south to Americus, Georgia, led them to Koinonia Farm, an interracial Christian community and communal farm established in 1942, further broadening their understanding of intentional communities and faith-based living.
Y-Serve students at the International Community School in Atlanta, supporting refugee education.
Y-Serve group visits the International Community School in Atlanta, supporting refugee education.
Y-Serve students explore the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Park, learning about civil rights history.
Ruth Abera, an EMU junior and Y-Serve student leader, valued the nightly reflections as a crucial part of the trip. Another highlight for her was meeting the founder of Refuge Coffee Co. in Clarkston, Georgia. This coffee shop and truck business employs resettled refugees and immigrants, creating a welcoming space for diverse cultures to converge. Abera expressed deep admiration for the founder’s vision, stating, “After hearing her story, I was like, ‘I’ve known you for five minutes and I want to be just like you.’”
Y-Serve students at Refuge Coffee Co., a social enterprise supporting refugees and immigrants.
West Virginia: Home Repair and Kingdom Values with Y-Serve
Concurrently, another Y-Serve group journeyed to Kimball, West Virginia, in McDowell County, an area facing significant economic challenges. Partnering with Sharing With Appalachian People (SWAP), a Mennonite Central Committee ministry program, three EMU students and one alumnus engaged in home repair work from March 4-9. Their efforts focused on improving living conditions, connecting with local residents, and reflecting on their Christian faith in action through Y-Serve.
Y-Serve student leader Laurel Evans participating in a service trip to West Virginia.
Laurel Evans, an EMU senior majoring in bible, religion, and theology, led the West Virginia Y-Serve team. Their primary tasks included installing metal flashing and a new roof section, along with extensive repainting. Evans particularly cherished the interactions with the homeowners they assisted. “They were a lovely couple,” Evans shared. “We took long breaks from our work to sit and have coffee with them and talk about our lives and God.”
Y-Serve volunteers take a break from home repairs, building connections with the local community.
Lee Martin, co-coordinator for the SWAP location with Peg Martin, guided the group in daily devotionals and reflections, centering on the theme of the Kingdom of God. Evans noted the significance of this focus, explaining, “That felt really important to the whole trip — how the Kingdom of God shows up in the small things, and in things we might not consider meaningful, affected how I saw the week.”
Y-Serve volunteers working together on home repair project in West Virginia.
Evans, who had previously co-led a fall break Y-Serve trip to Kimball, described the spring break service trip as both “restful and productive.” She emphasized the rejuvenating aspect of service, stating, “I felt really well-rested from the week, but I also know I made a decent difference in someone else’s life.”
Y-Serve volunteers take a break from home repairs, building connections with the local community.
These spring break Y-Serve trips exemplify EMU students’ commitment to service, offering transformative experiences that broaden perspectives, deepen faith, and foster meaningful connections within diverse communities.
