MerServe, Mercer University’s student service organization, hosted its annual Hunger and Homelessness Week last week as the organization celebrates it tenth year of service on campus. MerServe was created by Margaret Rooyakkers '19, who is now the assistant director of service and civic engagement at Mercer, in 2015.
The week offered multiple opportunities for students to engage with local organizations that address food insecurity and homelessness in the Macon community.
During its fourth year, Hunger and Homelessness Week featured organizations including the Brookdale Resource Center, Rescue Mission of Middle Georgia, Napier Heights Food Co-op, Backpack Buddies and Weekend Lunch. Volunteers also had the opportunity to attend a Super Bowl party hosted at Brookdale. Over 70 students participated in the week-long event.
“I love seeing how grateful the community partners are for us coming out with the volume of volunteers we bring,” Kassia Bono ‘28 said. “It really shows how much of an impact we have.”
Aiyaz Ali ‘28 and Bono, MerServe’s Hunger and Homelessness coordinators, helped select the different service partners and organized events hosted throughout the week.
“We chose sites that we know truly make a difference,” Ali said. “Whether the impact is direct or indirect, these organizations are helping real people in our community.”
Aditya Vayalapalli ‘26, MerServe’s director of assessment and innovation, said weeks like this reflect the organization’s broader mission to connect Mercer students to the surrounding community through accessible and meaningful service.
“MerServe isn’t just about one event,” Vayalapalli said. “Our goal is to create ongoing connections between students and the Macon community and to help students learn through service.”
Vayalapalli has been involved with MerServe since his freshman year. He said the organization hosts dozens of service events each year with a wide range of community partners so that Mercer students can engage in diverse service opportunities.
“One of our biggest goals is making service accessible,” he said. “We want every student to feel like there’s a place for them at a MerServe event, no matter their schedule, abilities or prior experience.”
That accessibility was a guiding principle during Hunger and Homelessness Week, which focused on both direct service and raising awareness about food insecurity and housing instability beyond Mercer’s campus.
“Service is about more than just showing up,” Vayalapalli said. “It’s also about learning, being exposed to issues you might not encounter otherwise and understanding the community you’re a part of.”
For Bono, service is a way to remain grounded while pursuing higher education. Doing work off of campus and within the Macon community, Bono said, is important because it gives students a chance to "make a tangible difference" and get to "understand issues beyond campus."
Bono added that the work was fulfilling and she appreciated the Rescue Mission of Middle Georgia’s responsiveness and gratitude.
“They make the outreach part of my job very easy,” Bono said. “After every event, they send a 'Thank you' message that really shows how much they value our volunteers.”
Ali shared a similar sentiment about Backpack Buddies, one of MerServe’s longtime partners.
“They are very organized and easy to work with,” he said. “The women who run the backpack ministry are incredibly kind and appreciative every time we go.”
Clara Kurczak '29 is majoring in journalism at Mercer University. She loves capturing moments and bringing stories to life with her camera and pen. When she is not working on articles, Clara enjoys listening to music, spending time with the people she cares about and reading anything she can get her hands on.
