Fordham University students and St. Ignatius Middle School (SIS) students came together to assemble school supply packs that were distributed to children in a New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) after-school program. This event, which took place on Feb. 6, was part of a Campus Ministry service program.
Students took a Ram Van driven by Robert Parmach, senior director of Ignatian Mission and Education at Fordham, to the SIS as part of the event. This specific event was part of a larger series of programming done by Campus Ministry.
Participants worked in an assembly line to put together and fill backpacks donated by Fordham University’s summer session, according to Parmach, that read “Summer Leader.” The students worked with SIS middle schoolers to put the packs together.
The packs were filled with rulers, pencils, magic markers, erasers, books, stickers and toys. These items were meant to serve as a motivation tool for the children in a NYCHA afterschool program and to provide them with supplies that can be used for their education, Parmach noted. Each backpack also contained a homemade card of affirmation written by both Fordham and SIS students.
This particular event was funded by Ignatian Mission Initiatives through Campus Ministry. Parmach estimated the cost of this event to be $150.
“It’s not a huge amount, so we make our dollars stretch,” he said.
Rosy Harris, FCRH ’29, also participated in the event. She described noticing similarities between herself and the SIS students, as they all attend Jesuit schools.
“Working with the SIS middle school students,” Harris said, “I was able to get a glimpse into their lives while we came together to serve others. It was great to talk to the students and share what we are grateful for.” She thanked Parmach for putting the service opportunity together.
Samantha DeWeese, GSB ’27, who also participated in the event, said listening to the SIS students’ perspectives was impactful.
“Hearing from someone who grew up in a completely different environment with different opportunities made me feel like I understood our neighbors in the Bronx better,” she said.
Parmach continued to share about the connection between Fordham and SIS.
“We’re still both Jesuit schools that have certain principles that we share,” Parmach said. “So regarding teamwork and how we look out for one another and how we motivate each other … we talk about that to them to make sure that it’s making an impact.”
The programming done by Campus Ministry reflects the Fordham mission statement of cura personalis, care for the whole person, according to Parmach. The Ignatian mission statement is uniting the head, the hands and the heart. Parmach said this is reflected in the events they hold.
“We want to spark… your intellect, your imagination, your heart, your beliefs,” said Parmach. “To get out there in the world and do something, not just to sit on our hands as intellectual beings or ethical beings. We need to get out there in the world.”
Campus Ministry typically hosts 20 events in the fall and 20 in the spring, as well as some in the summer for both faculty and students, according to Parmach. While similar supply drives have been hosted on Fordham’s campuses, this was the first time the event was held at SIS.
Other events with SIS have included sandwich-making for a local food pantry and music-based programming. Parmach is also the faculty advisor for the Ramblers, Fordham’s student male acapella group, which he said he brings into his work with Campus Ministry.
“We’ve gone there in the past,” Parmach said, “where the student musicians go there, perform a few songs, but also teach them about music and teamwork.”
One of the goals of these events is to expose the middle schoolers to higher education, which Parmach said is a great factor that allows everyone participating in the event to work as well as to learn from one another.
“We’re trying to encourage these middle school, Jesuit- educated students to have dreams to come to college, to excel, to do well,” said Parmach.
Parmach said these programs are impactful for Fordham students and the SIS students.
“Prior to the event, we do a reflection together, the SIS students and the Fordham students,” Parmach said. He also said that students took part in a debrief discussion during the Ram Van ride back to campus, reflecting on what resonated with them. “I’m always enthusiastic and grateful for what they took from that event,” he said.
Jake Esposito, FCRH ’26, in his reflection of the event said speaking with some students about their values of respect and compassion gave him a drive to assist his community.
“Having the privilege to interact with and assist middle school students in their public service prospects provided me with a remarkable outlook on the future generations,” Esposito said.
The next campus ministry event, the St. Valentine’s Day Reflection and Spirituality Discussion, will take place on Feb. 12 at Rose Hill.
