Across Minnesota and the nation, CSB and SJU students and graduates came together over several weekends in April to make an impact in their local communities.
The annual Benedictine Day of Service events drew close to 550 volunteers in all, engaging in a wide range of projects at a total of 21 sites.
That’s up from 17 projects and 189 volunteers a year ago.
“All these increases demonstrate the ongoing commitment and dedication of CSB and SJU alums to their communities – wherever they are,” said Val Jones, the CSB executive director of alumnae relations. “We know that Bennies and Johnnies also serve their communities in hundreds of ways, big and small, every other day of the year.
“Benedictine Day of Service is just a snapshot of one day’s efforts to serve graciously and engage globally – two important goals that all Bennies and Johnnies leave CSB and SJU knowing how to accomplish with humility and compassion.”
“Finding ways for our Johnnie and Bennie alums to come together in support of their local communities is incredibly meaningful,” added Anna Andvik, the associate director of alumni relations at SJU. “The Benedictine Day of Service team spent months organizing events across the country, and seeing our volunteer goal not only met but exceeded has been truly rewarding.”
Here is a look at all the projects completed:
Minnesota
Central Minnesota – Catholic Charities Food Shelf (26 volunteers cleaned shelves and cooling areas, organized the warehouse and assisted in customer service spaces)
Chanhassen – Feed My Starving Children (36 volunteers took part in food packing events)
Coon Rapids – Feed My Starving Children (14 volunteers took part in food packing events)
CSB campus – Library Clean-Up (Nine volunteers helped clean and organize Clemens Library)
Duluth – St. Francis House (12 volunteers organized a fundraiser to provide meals for those in need)
Minneapolis – Good Grocer (Nine volunteers assisted as cashiers and by stocking shelves and helping with general cleaning)
Plymouth – Young Alum Committee clothing drive (Nine volunteers helped support a clothing drive to benefit the CSB and SJU Career Closet)
Mankato – Connections Shelter (11 volunteers managed inventory in a clothing donation room and helped prepare snack bags for daily residents)
Moorhead – Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity ReStore (10 volunteers assisted with painting, cleaning and organizing various areas of the store)
Rochester – Family Service Rochester (10 volunteers took part in spring yard clean-up efforts)
SJU campus – Kids Fighting Hunger (200 Johnnie athletes and 100 other members of the CSB and SJU communities came together to pack 38,000 meals)
Wisconsin
Milwaukee – Guest House Homeless Shelter (Volunteers served breakfast to guests and residents)
Iowa
Des Moines – Meals From the Heartland (Five volunteers assembled boxes providing meals for those in need as well as raising money for the organization)
Illinois
Chicago – Greater Chicago Food Depository (Volunteers took part in food repacking efforts)
South Dakota
Sioux Falls – St. Francis House (20 volunteers assembled Easter baskets for families in need)
Nebraska
Omaha – Food Bank for the Heartland (Seven volunteers sorted, packed and organized food for distribution)
Indiana
South Bend – Cultivate Food Rescue (10 volunteers helped reduce food waste and provide means for those in need)
New York
New York – Park Clean-Up and Gardening project (Volunteers assembled for impromptu clean-up project)
District of Columbia
Washington, D.C. – A Wider Circle (Two volunteers sorted and organized incoming furniture donations, stocked the showrooms and assisted clients loading furniture into vehicles)
Arizona
Phoenix – Feed My Starving Children (21 volunteers took part in food packing events)
Colorado
Denver – Food for Thought (18 volunteers packed non-perishable food items into Power Sacks and prepared weekend meal kits for distribution to those in need)
College of Saint Benedict junior Abby Kelly, an alumnae relations intern at CSB, helped coordinate the various events. She said it was an eye-opening experience to see the commitment to service shown by so many Bennies and Johnnies.
“The most valuable thing I’ve learned from working on the Benedictine Day of Service all semester is how much planning and teamwork it takes to make something like this happen,” she said. “This experience has shown me that service is more than just helping for one day. It takes time, communication and critically thinking ahead to really make a difference.
“The most rewarding part was seeing everything finally come together after working on it for so long. It was cool to see students, alums and community members come together and be excited to help. It made all the hard work feel worth it.”
Jones echoed those sentiments.
“I am so proud of alums around the country who shared their time and talents,” she said. “And I am so proud and grateful for the help and support of this year’s planning team who made the 2026 Benedictine Day of Service impactful and successful by every measure.
“Thank you to: Anna Andvik, SJU Alumni Relations, Abby Kelly ‘27 Alumnae Relations Intern, Kelly Ziegler Baker ‘06, CSB Alumnae Board, Nick Curtis ‘03, SJU Alumni Board, Joan Van Grinsven Doss ‘13, and Mike Dirksen ‘99, SJU Alumni Board, for their leadership and enthusiasm for this project.
“Everyone be on the lookout for how you can get involved, host or participate in a Benedictine Day of Service project near you next year!”
