Helping Hands: Sophomore Service Retreat

Last week, the sophomore class set their books and laptops aside and stepped into a day of meaningful action across Greater Cleveland. The annual Sophomore Retreat—a collection of service experiences rooted in St. Edward’s Holy Cross pillars of relationships and servant leadership—offers Edsmen the opportunity to support local nonprofits that rely on volunteer power to thrive.

From food banks to churches, community gardens to nonprofit centers, groups of students and staff members fanned out across the region to lend a hand where it was needed most. Their morning was spent learning about important community issues, meeting the people who address them every day, and jumping in to serve in real, hands-on ways.

“This retreat is more than just a day away from school,” says Director of Outreach and Service Emily McGee. “It’s a powerful reminder that every Edsman has the ability—and the responsibility—to make a difference.”

Here’s just a glimpse of what their morning looked like:

• At the Bishop Cosgrove Center, students rolled up their sleeves to clean and organize clothing donations, supporting a vital drop-in center that provides meals and shelter to those experiencing homelessness.
• At the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, they sorted through crates of donated food, playing a small but important role in feeding thousands of local families.
• In Lakewood’s Centering Space garden, students got their hands dirty helping maintain a peaceful outdoor space for spiritual reflection.
• At Cornerstone of Hope, they assembled thank-you gifts for grief support volunteers, helping to spread kindness and appreciation.
• In Brooklyn Heights, Cleveland, and surrounding areas, teams pitched in at furniture banks and free stores, sorting donations and refurbishing gently used items for those in need.
• In several churches that have stood for more than a century, students helped with maintenance and outdoor projects, preserving spaces of worship and community gathering.
• With disability services organizations like Vocational Guidance Services and Solutions at Work, Edsmen spent time engaging in recreational activities that brought joy to adults with disabilities.
• At Zelie’s Home, a shelter for pregnant women and new moms, students worked on outdoor improvements to create a more welcoming environment for families in transition.

But the day didn’t end there.

In the afternoon, the groups returned to campus to take part in a meaningful project with Hands of Gratitude, a nonprofit that brings life-changing aid to people around the world. Working in small groups, students assembled 3D-printed prosthetic hands for recipients in need—each with a personal biography and a real story. Some were building for children. Others for adults. Left hands. Right hands. All for someone waiting to receive the gift of mobility.

By the end of the week, St. Edward sophomores had built 50 custom prosthetics that will be shipped—free of charge—to recipients across the globe.

Through these acts of service and reflection, students deepened their understanding of what it means to lead with compassion. The retreat served as a living lesson in Holy Cross values: honoring the dignity of every person and answering the call to serve with humility and heart.