“RamCorps was truly blessed to be invited to the Strickland Youth Center. Our college students have an instant rapport with these youth ages 12-18, and the music we perform engages youth because it is dynamic and exciting with visual movement. Through testimonies by UMobile students and one-on-one prayer time, we saw many life-changing commitments with the Strickland Youth. We can boldly share our faith with these students and they have responded. We can’t think of a better way to serve our community than bringing hope and encouragement to these troubled youth, introducing them to Jesus.”
Kenn Hughes
Assistant Professor of Music
Director of Instrumental Studies,
Jazz Band & RamCorps
“Going to Strickland Youth Center with RamCorps is always such an incredible opportunity, and I consider it a great privilege to do ministry with RamCorps. I was very excited to go back to the center to perform for the kids, because I knew that we would have the opportunity to talk and connect with them. After we played a few songs and the Gospel was presented, we had the chance to talk to them. I was so excited for the student that I talked to because I knew that God had done a work in his heart. It’s these moments and opportunities that make me so thankful to be a part of a school and a group of people dedicated to seeing Jesus’ name made known in our city and around the world.”
Josh Holley
Junior, Intercultural Studies
“For Project Serve, the entire School of Nursing went to Little Sisters of the Poor. We had teams doing maintenance, housekeeping, vital signs, sanitation, hair, nails, and simply visiting and getting to know the residents. I spent my day washing, drying and styling the residents’ hair to assist them in feeling beautiful. Serving people with your time is one of the best acts of love. It shows someone that you care about them. You are not on an agenda other than to be there for them and show them love. We all had an amazing time getting to know the residents and assisting the Sisters any way we could. They rely on volunteers to keep their home affordable for their residents. No act of service goes unnoticed – every bit counts!”
Kei Martin
Senior, Nursing
“When I think about Project Serve, I think about community. I have always enjoyed the fact that being a student at the University of Mobile means that you are given the opportunity to adopt a second family. As a young adult transitioning from living with your parents to living on your own, community is a key element to this transition into adulthood. Project Serve is a day set aside for myself, my fellow classmates, and the tremendous professors and staff at the University of Mobile to go into our community as a united community of students, believers and friends. My Project Serve experience this year was one of great joy and sadness, because this is my last year to participate in my favorite school event, due to my upcoming graduation. This particular Project Serve, I had the pleasure to sing classic hymns at nursing homes in the Mobile area with my fellow Center for Performing Arts peers. As my small group of 15 students met together before we embarked on our mission, we had the opportunity to pray together for the day ahead and for the other teams that would be leaving as well. This special time together united my group. We arrived at our first nursing home, not knowing what many precious people desiring to be loved and appreciated. I was given the opportunity that day to help those who are in need of a caring friend, to love on them and to make them smile. The joy I received from serving these precious men and women is far greater than anything I could ever offer to them that day. We were able to sing with them, offer them hugs and handshakes, encourage them with our kind and uplifting words, pray with them for their health and well-being, and to offer them the hope that is found only in Jesus, for which our incredible school finds its foundation. I learned so much about community through Project Serve.”
Anna Phillips
Senior, Music
“For Project Serve this year, I went on a team from the Center for Performing Arts to two different nursing homes to sing hymns with the residents. This year at one of the homes, Mildred (one of the residents) was celebrating her birthday. Mildred was confined to a wheelchair, and while she sang a few words with us, she mainly just watched my friend, Hannah, and me sing. The smile on her face was not something I will easily forget. She told us how much we had blessed her, and how she loved Jesus and the songs that we sang with her. Project Serve is a beautiful opportunity where we as students are given the ability to love on a community that desperately needs it. It is an opportunity to have our eyes opened to the needs that are around us that we so often overlook. It is an opportunity to bring the love of Jesus to those who need the reminder, simply by following in His footsteps and serving our neighbors.”
Anna Sailors
Senior, Music
“This was the first time I have gotten to experience an event such as Project Serve. Being out of class was pretty exciting, but giving back to an amazing cause felt even better than that. I am part of the School of Business, and our group went to the Dumas Wesley Community Center. It’s things like that which make me love my school. I have been to two different universities before transferring to UMobile. I must admit I have been able to make so much difference in the world through this school, just in part of my first semester here, than I did for two years at any of the other schools I attended.”
Anna Ustupkina
Sophomore, Business Administration
“For Project Serve, I went with the rest of the UMobile women’s soccer team to Council Traditional School. We worked with the physical education teachers, as well as assisting in teaching basics of French and Spanish in the school’s foreign language classes. This was an incredible opportunity to get out in the community and be a small part of shaping future generations.”
Madison Kindzierski
Sophomore, Communication
“I participated with the women’s basketball team for Project Serve. We volunteered at Ella Grant, an elementary school in Prichard, where we helped third grade students with reading and math. I really enjoyed spending time with the children. Programs like Project Serve are the type of experiences that make me glad I chose to transfer to the University of Mobile.”
Kerrie York
Senior, Accounting
“This year, I served alongside numerous other theology majors at the International Mission Center. I joined a team of volunteers outside doing lawn and maintenance care. We were doing something I love, which is ‘making it easier for her’ – ‘her’ being the church. As a volunteer force, we were able to do countless tasks and also help reach others in the name of Jesus.”
Kaiser Karpanty
Junior, Theology
“As a freshman this fall, it was a great honor to be part of Project Serve. The opportunity to provide school supplies to the underprivileged children at USA Children’s and Women’s hospital and serve my community as a member of the UMobile student body made me proud and thankful to be a part of such an amazing university. I have volunteered at USA Children’s and Women’s hospital since the beginning of this year, spending all summer as a clinical observation student in the NICU unit. I know any donations that are given are a gift from God and much appreciated. We were able to experience the excitement from the staff at the hospital as they were extremely grateful for our gift. Project Serve is a wonderful tradition at the University of Mobile, and I look forward to several more years of participation.”
Victoria Woodruff
Freshman, Nursing
“The Southwest Regional School is located in Mobile, Alabama and houses students from grades K-5th. Its mission is to create a positive, supportive and educational environment that provides opportunities for sensory impaired students. I can truly say that I was honored to be a part of Project Serve this year. I was privileged to spend the day assisting students on the playground as well as in the classroom. My classroom was composed of five hearing-impaired boys that ranged from severely deaf to mild hearing loss. I am forever grateful for this learning experience! I will remember the students, and their strong ability to persevere past their physical abilities with excellence, and the gratefulness that beamed from their hearts to ours!”
Jessica Sanders
Senior, Elementary Education
“I enjoyed the opportunity to work side-by-side with ministerial students who were also happy to serve the community as we spruced up Langan Park. Painting signs and playground equipment and marking trails throughout the park made a visible difference and was an important way to give back to the City of Mobile. Project Serve is a great way to bring us all together.”
Nancy Snodgrass ‘91
Development Office
Locations Served
Ransome Café
Fairhope United Methodist Church
Ella Grant School
Habitat for Humanity ReStore
Heron Lakes Country Club
Dodge Elementary School
Mars Hill Church
North Mobile Baptist School
Sea Breeze Nursing Home
Salvation Army
L’Arche Mobile
Sea Breeze Nursing Home
Daphne Elementary School
USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital
Mobile History Museum
The Gulf Coast Exploreum
Mitchell Cancer Center
Cogburn Health & Rehab West
Baldwin House Assisted Living
William F. Green State Veterans Home
Twin Oaks Nursing Home
Crowne Health Care of Springhill
Westminister Village
Specialty Healthcare & Rehab
Eight Mile Nursing & Rehab
Sea Breeze Health Care Center
Gordon Oaks Healthcare
Lynnwood Nursing Home
Mercy Medical
Montrose Bay Health & Rehab
Crowne Health Care of Mobile
Mobile Nursing & Rehab Center
Oakwood-N. Baldwin Center for Living
Allen Memorial Home
Cogburn Nursing Center Midtown
Springhill Manor Nursing Home
Grand Bay Convalescent
Springhill Senior Residence
Somerby of Mobile
Fairhope Health & Rehab
Cogburn Health & Rehab
First Baptist Tillman’s Corner Food Pantry
Home of Grace
Strickland Youth Center
Langan Park/Municipal Park
Bay Area Food Bank
Ronald McDonald House
Wilmer Hall
Dumas Wesley Community Center
International Seaman’s Center
Chickasaw School
SW Alabama School for Deaf and Blind
Kate Shepherd Elementary
Saraland High School
Widow’s Mite Ministry
Little Sisters of the Poor Health Care Facility
Law Enforcement Training Facility
Various Homes of the Elderly
About the Author
