Student Spotlight: As a Maggie's Place Volunteer, Claire Loder '24 Walks in Another's Shoes

Claire Loder '24, spent the first day of her spring break trip to Arizona lost and frustrated for hours due to unreliable public transportation. The obstacles that she experienced were designed to offer a glimpse of the daily challenges faced by the residents of Maggie's Place, a Phoenix nonprofit organization that provides safe housing and a nurturing community for homeless pregnant women. 

Loder, along with six other University of Scranton students and three chaperones, volunteered from March 9 to 15 through the University's Center for Service and Social Justice. 

"Each day looked different. The first day we had a "Day in the Life of a Mom" Encounter, where we split up into two groups and were given scenarios that many of the mothers of Maggie's Place go through. We took the Phoenix public transportation and were given certain tasks to do at each spot.  We were walking around in the Arizona heat for a few hours and getting lost due to unreliable transportation," said the Westfield, New Jersey resident.

"While many of us were frustrated, we had come to realize that this was just another day for a Maggie's Place mom. It was a great start to the trip as it gave us a new perspective."

Loder said that prior to the pandemic, the University had organized service trips to Maggie's Place, but this was the first visit since that time.  

"I had been on a service trip with the Center for Service and Social Justice last January to Missoula, Montana and when I heard that they were introducing this trip, I was very interested. The peer facilitator on my trip to Missoula, Mia Sandy, is doing a year of service as an Americorps member at Maggie’s Place and I had heard about her amazing experience," said Loder.

"Mothers who are experiencing homelessness can live in the Maggie's Place homes from the time they find out they're pregnant up to when their child is one year old. ... Americorps members live in the houses with the moms and children, along with providing support services, parent and child enrichment classes, health and wellness classes and educational programming."

University participants were Loder, Kelly McGovern, Erin Holler, Bridgid Guarnuccio, Abigail Casal, Susan Wohlmuth and Jenna Kotlar. Chaperones were Sophia McMullan, Kayla Betacchini and Melissa Przewlocki.

The advertising/public relations major said that one goal of the volunteer group was to fully immerse themselves in the experience.

"Many of the days we went to a Maggie's Place house and got to see everything that the Americorps volunteers did. We made dinners, cleaned and organized the homes and participated in community nights.  We assisted with childcare while mothers were in support groups or classes one night as well!  Anything that the mothers, Americorps members, or staff needed to be done, we did for them that week," Loder said.

"We knew from before that this was not going to be like other service trips where we were doing physical labor, like building houses, but more of an educational experience. ...Maggie's Place does not run service trips regularly, so we knew that this was a unique experience that we were not going to get again."

According to Loder, the organization does much to support current and alumni moms.

"No matter how long they were there, a mother can come back for events, counseling, classes and much more. Mothers do not have to pay for anything while in the house as there are donation closets filled with everything that they need. Alumni mothers can earn donation dollars by going to events and classes and can spend those dollars on diapers, clothes for both them and their child, and toys," added Loder.

"Once a mother leaves Maggie's Place, they are never forgotten by the organization and are always supported by everyone there."