What ARE the Mercy values? Mercy, service, option for the poor, justice, and human dignity. Although these values seem self-explanatory, many still struggle to put them into practice in their daily lives. Be generous with possessions, time, and love. Mercy, make a difference. Not just on Mercy Make a Difference Day, but every day.

“You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you,” said 17th century English Christian Writer and Preacher John Bunyan. Make today the day you live, make today the day you help someone in need.

Here are a few charities in the Metro-Detroit area that are always looking for volunteers:

Mercy Education Project (MEP)

“MEP’s mission is to provide educational opportunities, life skills development and cultural enrichment for women and girls who have limited access to resources to enable them to improve the quality of their lives,” said the MEP website. There are many ways to help MEP, such as tutoring, teaching, answering phones, welcoming students, assisting with girls’ activities, chaperoning a field trip, presenting a field of interest, and the list goes on. There is a place for everyone to help at MEP.

Website: http://www.mercyed.net/volunteer

Gleaners Community Food (GCF)

According to the GCF website “in collaboration with… member agencies. . .[Gleaners] provide[s] millions of pounds of donated and purchased food to people in need….Gleaners is committed to distributing nutritional, high quality food.” While volunteering at Gleaners, one can sort and distribute food to the needy in the Metro-Detroit area.

Website: http://www.gcfb.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pg_volunteer

Blanketed With Love (BWL)

“The mission of Blanketed With Love is to help all those in need by giving the homeless, homebound, poor, ill, and disadvantaged blankets throughout the year,” said the BWL Website. BWL was created in 2007 by two Mercy Alumnae, Sarah Blake and Patty Battersby, and continues to thrive with the helpful hand of junior Elizabeth Blake. Fleece blankets can be made with a group of people or alone. These blankets are special because they made by hand and with love for those in need.

Website: http://www.blanketedwithlove.org/

St. Joe’s Mercy Health System (SJMHS)

According to the SJMHS Website“SJMHS [is committed] to the goal of providing local, nutritious, and sustainable food.” Lisa McDowell is the manager of clinical nutrition at SJMHS, and visited Mercy last year to speak with the health classes to inform students about nutrition and the farm at St. Joe’s. Help bring fresh, nutritious food to the patients at St. Joes by volunteering in their garden.

Website: http://www.stjoeshealth.org/volunteer-farm