Mary Clare McDade ’27, Peyton Davis ’27, Lauren McMillin from UMFS, Britsia Hernandez ’26
Kelly Lindquist, Volunteer and Outreach Manager at the Doorways
Lauren Behringer, Buster and Maura Varley from Richmond Animal League
Students greet special guest Buster before heading to classes.
Buster gets some extra pets this morning.
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Partners in Service
Students discover new ways to serve through partnerships with area nonprofits
This week in Morning Meeting, Trinity students had the chance to hear directly from three of our community partners: UMFS, The Doorways and Richmond Animal League. Each organization shared its mission and showed students just how many ways they can get involved in meaningful service.
At UMFS, students learned about opportunities to support children and families through clothing drives and birthday celebrations. Volunteer Engagement Coordinator Lauren McMullin also celebrated the work of Trinity students who participated in the UMFS Youth Fellowship Program over the summer, a powerful example of the difference young people can make when they dedicate time to serving others.
From The Doorways, students heard from Kelly Lindquist, who explained how food donations and volunteer time help families who are staying in Richmond while loved ones receive life-saving medical care. Students walked away with a better understanding of how even simple acts, like organizing a food drive, can provide comfort and care to families in need.
Finally, representatives from the Richmond Animal League gave students a look into the many ways they can volunteer to support animals waiting for adoption. Lauren Behringer and Maura Varley shared about RAL’s events and programs, but it was Buster the dog who stole the show. His visit reminded students that service can be fun, hands-on, and sometimes full of wagging tails.
By hearing directly from these organizations, students discovered that there’s truly something for everyone when it comes to serving the community, whether it’s supporting children, families or animals. This week’s Morning Meeting reinforced that community engagement isn’t just a Trinity value; it’s a way for Titans to make an immediate and lasting impact.
“As someone who wants to pursue a career in STEM, being able to have the opportunity to meet another woman who has made an impressive career for herself in STEM, is an inspiration for me,” said Madison Jewett ‘26