CCSJ celebrates Year of Hope
Service is at the heart of Calumet College of St. Joseph
In the spirit of the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope proclaimed by Pope Francis, Calumet College of St. Joseph (CCSJ) made a pledge to spread hope in our communities through acts of service and volunteerism. The CCSJ Year of Hope volunteer initiative officially began in January of 2025, but as President Dr. Amy McCormack says, “Service is at the heart of Calumet College of St. Joseph,” and students, faculty, and staff have been volunteering their time and energy to better the communities surrounding the campus and beyond for years.
Weekly acts of kindness: The Sandwich Project and Meals on Wheels
Every week, under the guidance of our Campus Ministry, students and college employees gather to prepare sandwiches and meals for the needy through The Sandwich Project, while faculty and staff volunteer deliver food with Meals on Wheels.
Jaylynn Allison, a CCSJ student volunteer, shared this about her volunteer experience: “The Sandwich Project addresses food insecurity by providing for those in need. [My] key takeaways include a deeper understanding of the issue, the importance of community, and the impact of small acts of service. I learned valuable skills and gained greater empathy, inspiring me to continue making a positive difference.”
Inspiring young minds and beautifying schools
As members of a higher learning institution, volunteering to uplift and inspire the younger generation of learners is important to our students and employees. The CCSJ sprint football team members have visited elementary schools in East Chicago, Indiana, to read stories to young students and share their stories, thereby creating unforgettable moments of connections and inspiration.
In honor of Earth Day, CCSJ’s Alpha Phi Omega service organization partnered with local students in Hammond, Indiana, to plant flowers and clean the school grounds to help beautify the school, while mentoring the next generation of environmental stewards with hands-on experience.
Since the start of 2025, the Year of Hope initiative has touched nearly 200 events and organizations, from tackling food insecurity to mentoring youth, coaching, tutoring, and more. And we’re just getting started. Plans are underway to carry this momentum through summer, into fall, and beyond.
“The Year of Hope is an invitation for each of us — students, faculty, staff, and supporters, to be part of something greater than ourselves,” says Dr. Amy McCormack. “It is an important opportunity to live out our values in tangible ways, support one another, and to continue to contribute to the collective good.”
Calumet College of St. Joseph is a graduate and undergraduate degree-granting institution sponsored by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.