SOUTH BEND, IN — Notre Dame student veterans are demonstrating a powerful and sustained commitment to the South Bend community, engaging in both direct hospitality and crucial transitional education.
The initiatives, spearheaded by Burg Salanoa, the Community Service Representative for the MBA Vets Club, highlight the ethos of servant leadership across two vital local organizations, the Center for the Homeless and Our Lady of the Road.
Hands-On Hospitality at Our Lady of the Road
Last Friday, military-affiliated students from across the University spent the morning volunteering at Our Lady of the Road, a local day center that supports individuals experiencing homelessness and provides essential services like showers, laundry, and a place to rest, operating in the tradition of the Catholic Worker Movement. The team put the mission of "God, Country, Notre Dame" into action by:
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Serving Over 175 Meals: Volunteers cooked and served a hearty breakfast of scrambled eggs and pancakes, distributing over 175 meals to community members.
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Essential Support: They managed the center’s hospitality offerings, running the laundry machines, organizing winter clothing donations, and thoroughly cleaning the facility.
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Building Community: Beyond the physical tasks, the veterans spent time engaging in friendly, direct conversations with guests, offering genuine fellowship and support.
Sustained Facility Support for Local Veterans
This commitment to the veteran community is ongoing. In September, the MBA Vets Club also led a focused service effort to support the Robert L. Miller Sr. Veteran's Center (747 S Michigan St). Volunteers dedicated an afternoon (September 19th) to painting rooms and conducting essential maintenance. This selfless work was crucial, directly enabling the Veteran's Center to maintain annual compliance with its grantors and ensure continued funding for the vital services it provides to local veterans.
Leading the Charge in Veteran Readiness Education (DRIVE Program)
In addition to direct service, the MBA Vets Club stepped up to lead specialized educational sessions for the Center for the Homeless’ new program, DRIVE (Developing Readiness in Veterans' Experiences). This intensive, two-week program is specifically aimed at assisting veterans at the Miller Vet Center with critical life skills necessary for stable transition.
Despite the challenging, short-notice schedule that overlapped with their rigorous MBA class times, Burg and the MBA volunteers quickly mobilized to secure presenters for three of the four available sessions, underscoring their dedication to providing education alongside service.
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Financial Literacy: MBA candidates Yvonne Ng and Josh Miller leveraged their business expertise to lead sessions covering crucial financial topics: Saving and Building a Budget and Credit, Debt, and Buyer's Guidance.
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Life Organization & Wellness: Alex Kent led a session focused on essential life skills, including Organizing Your Life, Setting Goals, Nutrition, and Cleaning and Maintenance.
This deep involvement ensures that the student veterans are contributing not just immediate relief through their service, but also long-term, actionable tools for success to their fellow veterans in need.
A Testament to Servant Leadership
“The initiative shown by Burg and the entire team—from painting rooms, to cooking breakfast, to volunteering their time and business expertise for the DRIVE program—is a profound testament to the leadership they bring to campus every day,” said Michael Labbe, Assistant Director of the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs. “Every hour spent teaching a class or providing hospitality reinforces our student veterans’ dedication to service beyond self, providing both crucial support and vital education to the South Bend community.”
OMVA extends its sincere gratitude to Burg Salanoa, Yvonne Ng, Josh Miller, Alex Kent, and all the student volunteers for their commitment to these dual initiatives, making both the direct service and educational support programs a resounding success.