Left to right: Dominican Scholars of Hope advisor Charles Zola, assistant to the President for Mission Integration, director of the Mount’s Catholic and Dominican Institute, and associate professor of Philosophy; The Rev. Ernie Mossel, Pastor of Christ Lutheran church; Kim Uszacki of Staten Island, N.Y. (DSH leadership team), Jonathan Nowicki of Monroe, N.Y. (DSH leadership team); and DSH members Sean Ocasio of Monroe, N.Y. and Roselyn Vaquero of Newburgh, N.Y.
Mount Saint Mary College’s Dominican Scholars of Hope (DSH) recently donated $500 to the Baby Steps Baby Pantry (BSBP) at Christ Lutheran Church in Newburgh, N.Y.
Rooted in the values of the Judeo-Christian and Dominican heritage of the college, DSH is a nonacademic living and learning community for highly motivated Mount students.
Through a Krispy Kreme donut fundraiser, the DSH raised the money for the pantry, which provides infant supplies for families in need in the local area. Each month, families who are part of the program are provided with a week’s worth of diapers, wipes, wash, and cream.
This is the fifth year the Dominican Scholars have hosted fundraisers to benefit BSBP.
The Rev. Ernst Mossl, pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, was grateful to accept the donations in person near the end of the Fall 2023 semester.
“As the need is always increasing, BSBP counts it as a great blessing to have these service-minded students raise much-needed funds for the ministry,” said the Rev. Mossl. “Through the years, a strong partnership has grown between the diaper ministry and DSH, one that brings hope to many families.”
He added, “The need is always increasing, and our resources are stretched thin, but DSH has consistently supported our ministry. We are impressed with, and thankful for, their faith in action.”
The Rev. Mossl thanked Dominican Scholars of Hope advisor Charles Zola, assistant to the President for Mission Integration, director of the Mount’s Catholic and Dominican Institute, and associate professor of Philosophy, for his “faithful stewardship” of the program.
Zola, in turn, thanked the DSH for their excellent work.
“I’m so grateful for the efforts of our Dominican Scholars and the generosity of the Mount community during our doughnut sale fundraisers,” said Zola. “Their support for Newburgh’s Baby Steps Baby Pantry is one more example of how the Dominican values of service and community are a vital part of our campus culture and extend to the greater Newburgh area.”