Andy Drozdziak<\/p>\n
The Vincentian Young Adult community from across Northern England tackled the cost-of-living crisis head on by gathering for a day of service and action.<\/p>\n
15 students from across the North East, from the Universities of Durham, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Northumbria, and York, as well as young adults from parishes and camps, met at the St Vincent\u2019s centre, Newcastle, to put into practice the Vincentian ethos: to seek and serve those in need.<\/p>\n
St Vincent\u2019s centre, Newcastle, exists to support members of the community, working with families, refugees and asylum seekers, those facing homelessness and anyone who may need vital practical support.<\/p>\n
The SVP\u2019s Megan Lawrence told the Universe <\/em>how the students, many of whom had previously not met, were moved by the spirit present at the centre, as well as the activities.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone was moved not solely by the centre\u2019s ability to care for its community in such large numbers, but to do so with such love, compassion, and dignity,\u201d Megan said.<\/p>\n \u201cSome of the services that were highlighted on the day were the vast foodbanks supporting the city, the projects dealing with elderly loneliness, the open larder, as well as its clothing pantry that allows those in need to not only get the vital clothing they need, but to have the option of choice at an affordable price.\u201d<\/p>\n Deacon Patrick Rutherford, Membership Support Officer for Hexham and Newcastle, joined the group for the day, offering spiritual accompaniment to the day, as well as connecting with students in how they can better work with their local parish SVP conferences.<\/p>\n Megan said: \u201cThis is key in keeping our young adults engaged in social action: to provide a community of peers, but also connections to their own local community and its needs.\u201d<\/p>\n This was the second of the Young Adult (SVP1833) communities\u2019 Action Days.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"