The simplest things in life that we do everyday are taken for granted. This year, the sophomores had the opportunity to experience what the community does for others in need.

All the sophomores took a service trip to Over the Rhine in Cincinnati to help nonprofit organizations in the city. First they grouped together at St. Vincent de Paul. There the students were informed of what the day ahead would look like and split into groups, moving to their service locations.

Each sophomore got the chance to experience what each nonprofit does to help people in the community.

“The service that I did was going to a women’s homeless shelter where we played bingo with them. The experience impacted me by helping me understand that I should be grateful for what I have,” sophomore Lauryn Freson said.

“I went to a daycare and played with preschoolers whose parents are trying to get a high school degree or job,” said Ashley McKinney.

McKinney described what she took out of the experience seeing that “not all kids have the same situation or know where their parents are and what they are doing.”

Kim Salerno also visited a daycare to play with kids.

“I felt nervous and didn’t know how the kids would react but I felt accomplished at the end, but tired,” Salerno said.

“It made me appreciate the childhood I had,” Salerno said about her experiences at the daycare.

All good things have been coming from the sophomores about their experiences on Urban Action Days, and many hope to revisit the nonprofits they worked with.