Student Programs for Urban Development (SPUD)
Comprised of more than 30 diverse community partnerships, SPUD is the largest student-led service and justice organization on campus.
The program typically involves over 400+ volunteers who answer the Holy Cross call to be “men and women for and with others” throughout Greater Worcester.
The SPUD Experience
At the heart of the SPUD experience is the opportunity to build relationships with others through ongoing volunteer service. The work SPUD volunteers engage in ranges from serving meals and working at food pantries, to tutoring children, visiting seniors in nursing facilities, mentoring youth in detention, or supporting recently arrived immigrants and refugees.
We aim to facilitate meaningful service experiences in the Worcester community, as well as offer opportunities for prayer and reflection to help students deepen spiritual and personal growth, think critically about broader structural injustice, and take collective action toward change.
Our engagement with our neighbors in Worcester is to be characterized by a spirit of mutuality, generosity, and commitment. Therefore, participants in the SPUD program are expected to commit to the following:
- Attend the SPUD Orientation on Sun, September 14th @ 1 pm in the Hogan Ballroom
- Participate in weekly service in a designated SPUD program
- Gather for group reflection meetings led by SPUD Program Directors
For more information on volunteering for any of the following programs, please contact Associate Chaplain Marty Kelly at mkelly@holycross.edu or email the student leaders at spud@g.holycross.edu.
SPUD Programs
Children and Youth: Tutoring & Mentoring Programs
Pairs Holy Cross students with refugees of African nations who are now students in Worcester Public Schools. Volunteers help students adjust to their new lives and serve as academic tutors, mentors, and role models.
The Big Brothers Big Sisters program offers students the chance to work one-on-one in mentoring relationships. Our mentoring sites include Canterbury Street School, Auburn middle, and Girls Inc. Students spend time with their “little” brother or sister doing homework, arts and crafts, and athletic activities. The commitment is approximately 1.5 hours per week.
At the Boys and Girls Club we mentor and tutor children of all ages. Volunteers work at the site most weekdays and are always doing something different. From academic tutoring, playing basketball in the gym area, and playing in the game room, the volunteers and the children always enjoy their time together.
City View Elementary School welcomes volunteers to assist teachers during the school day to provide individual attention to students within the classrooms as well as extra support during recess. This partnership has been very well received and SPUD volunteers loved the interactions with students in this vibrant community.
Department of Youth Services (DYS), is a program focused on supporting youth in detention. Young men from Holy Cross connect with their peers in a juvenile detention facility in Worcester through basketball and other activities in order to provide mentorship.
Friendly House is an after-school program for children and teens. Holy Cross sends volunteers to the Friendly House to help with homework, participate in games and sports, and work on arts and crafts.
Luk Mentoring @ Plumley Village is a weekly afternoon mentoring program that provides structured activities and arts & crafts to facilitate connections between the children/youth and their Holy Cross mentors.
The Nativity Homework Center runs Monday thru Thursday afternoons. Holy Cross tutors provide homework help and serve as mentors for boys and girls at this tuition-free Jesuit middle school. The one-on-one tutoring allows ample opportunity for the student and tutor to really get to know one another and form connections within the school environment.
At Pernet After-School, Holy Cross volunteers provide homework help to students in grades K–5, as well as join them in recreational activities at nearby Crompton Park. There is also a youth program which serves children 13-17 years old where volunteers strive to create a safe environment where they can provide homework help, develop activities, chaperone outings, and serve as mentors
Plumley Village Clubhouse is a program for volunteers who are interested in becoming a mentor and playmate to a child 7-13 at the Plumley Village After School Program, which is an outreach of the Boys & Girls Club. Volunteers can be creative in coming up with ways to help children learn school subjects and can enjoy bonding with kids over games and sports after their work is complete.
Quinsigamond Elementary tutors aid a teacher in the classroom during the school day. Many teachers have volunteers guide small groups in math or reading activities or provide much needed 1 on 1 assistance.
The Rainbow Child Development Centers’ Extended Learning Program serves 120 children daily between the ages of 5-13 years old. Rainbow CDC provides an affordable after-school program with a stimulating curriculum emphasizing on homework, academic assistance, STEM activities, and physical exercise. Holy Cross volunteers facilitate a positive learning environment and build relationships.
St. Peter’s After School Clubs is a program for children K-8, and is held at an urban Catholic school. Volunteers offer clubs and enrichment opportunities after school based upon their own interests and skills. The program provides a safe and supportive after-school environment with wonderful support by the Assumption Sisters and school community.
The Guild of St. Agnes has a mission to provide families with quality, affordable, child care and early education programs for children. SPUD volunteers work with the children at two locations. If you are hoping for a hands-on experience with younger kids, this is a great site to consider.
Upward Bound is a four-year leadership and college access program for promising low-income, first-gen college-bound Worcester high school students. SPUD volunteers tutor in a variety of subjects, with math and science among the most popular.
Vernon Hill Elementary School volunteers assist during the school day and help to provide individual attention to students and extra support to teachers at this school which is located close to our campus.
Why Me & Sherry’s House is is a place where kids and their families can come and receive the support and encouragement they need to fight childhood cancer. Sherry’s House serves as a home-away-from-home for families while their child is on active treatment. SPUD volunteers host birthday parties, provide childcare during parent support groups, and help with seasonal holiday parties and celebrations.
Worcester Refugee Assistant Project (WRAP) is an organization committed to assisting local refugees to achieve sustainable self-reliance through mentoring, advocacy and providing material support needed. This SPUD site offers students the opportunity to work with the youth program to help them foster a supportive social network and improve academically. In person and online opportunities available.
YouthGROW (Youth Growing Organics in Worcester) seeks to provide access to healthy, sustainable, and affordable food for all. YouthGROW employs 32-40 high school teens (age 14-18) year-round who gain leadership and jobs skills as they maintain two urban organic farms. Holy Cross volunteers connect with the youth while getting their hands dirty at the farm.
Housing and Food Insecurity
At Abby’s House, female SPUD volunteers staff the women's shelter while administering to the safety, comfort, and needs of the residents. At Abby's, there's a strong sense of community and common purpose, one that we in SPUD have supported since the organization was founded.
Dismas House is a halfway house that aids in transitioning formerly incarcerated persons back into the community. This Holy Cross SPUD site does its best to aid in the transition by preparing and sharing a monthly meal with the residents at the house.
John 21 is a student initiated program that takes its name from Jesus’ invitation in the Gospel to “feed my sheep” as an act of faith. John 21 involves a small group of students who go out during the day on weekends to walk and encounter our neighbors in the city as companions, and to distribute food, toiletries, or clothing items as needed.
The Mustard Seed is a Catholic Worker soup kitchen that offers a meal and hospitality each evening. While there, Holy Cross volunteers help to serve the meal, interact with guests, and then clean the dining area at the end. Being a part of the Mustard Seed community has been an important experience for many students over the decades since its founding.
The Quinsigamond Village Community Center food pantry is located close to campus and serves those in our neighborhood. Volunteers assist with sorting food and clothing donations, welcoming guests, and other duties as assigned! This opportunity takes place on weekday mornings.
Healthcare and Disability Support
ASPiRE Day Program supports individuals with disabilities and other significant life challenges. By promoting personal choice and self-determination, ASPiRE! helps to provide individuals with enrichment, social interactions, and workforce readiness. Volunteers are welcome to be a part of this experience while forming important relationships.
At the Free Health Clinics in Shrewsbury and Worcester, a limited number of SPUD volunteers assist with translating for patients (in Portuguese or Spanish). This is a critically important service which allows for open dialogue and questions between patients and medical staff.
Jewish Healthcare Center (JHC) Hospice volunteers have a profound and meaningful opportunity to make a difference by enhancing someone’s life in their final days through visits to reduce patient isolation while bringing comfort and support to families. Training is provided to enhance knowledge and understanding of this important mission. The schedule is flexible & locations may vary.
Notre Dame Healthcare Hospice volunteers provide important support to patients and their families during the last months and weeks of life. Training is provided to prepare students to provide a meaningful presence during this time. The schedule is flexible & locations may vary.
Parson’s Hill Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, volunteers interact with residents and serve as a consistent source of support for seniors who can benefit from interaction with visitors. From simple conversations to activities with the residents, volunteers build relationships they can continue throughout their time in SPUD.
Saint Mary Healthcare provides flexible opportunities for students to visit with patients, engage in shared activities, or support the spiritual offerings within the center for residents.
ESL Program Serving Adults
Teach an English as a Second Language program to learners with different levels of ability. This opportunity will help you to develop meaningful relationships with recently arrived community members from across the globe.
SPUD Community Organizing
SPUD Community Organizers are a group of leaders who consider the broader structural and systemic injustices present in our communities, and take collective action for change in order to get at the "root" causes. Community organizers encourage student participation in the Worcester community through civic engagement, and educate their peers on campus regarding broader social justice issues. Involvement is open to all.