IWA students find meaningful way to experience Spring Break

High school students, from left, Leila Elizondo, Maddie Herndon, Ellie Clark, Jasmin Fernandez, Sarah Diaz and Araceli Saenz at Incarnate Word Academy review pet food donations made at the school recently. The group, who recently took a mission trip to Fort Worth over Spring Break, regularly do community service projects throughout the year.

Rebecca Esparza | for STC

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Instead of doing typical Spring Break teenager activities like hanging out at the beach with friends or playing video games all day, some students from Incarnate Word Academy (IWA) preferred to be of service to others during a five-day mission trip to Fort Worth.

 “When we go on these mission trips, we can tell people are thankful for the impact we are making in their lives,” said Madeline Herndon, an IWA senior.
IWA students have been taking high school mission trips for over 25 years. As mission trips to Mexico became unsafe for students during the last decade, the school switched to domestic trips. The change did not affect the meaningful impact of volunteering in service to others.

 “We change the area we visit every two years,” said Ashley Cartwright, IWA Campus Minister. “This year, we chose Fort Worth with a lot of prayer and research. A few years ago, after Hurricane Harvey, we chose the Beaumont area and right before the pandemic, we visited New Orleans.”

During each trip, the students focus on a particular area to address through their volunteerism. They study this all year in preparation for their mission trip.
“As a group, we attended weekly meetings and learned about a specific social issue. This year the focus was on domestic violence, children in poverty and children in foster care. While we were in North Texas, we sorted clothing donations in multiple rooms,” said Leila Elizondo, another senior at IWA.

“Oftentimes, we forget the different circumstances people live in, so it was an eye-opener to see what some people go through and how they live. It made me appreciate what I have a lot more,” Elizondo said. “I wish more students would consider going on a mission trip. It opens your heart and mind, and I can’t wait to come back someday as a chaperone.”

The students spent their first day in Fort Worth at Mission Arlington, a community-based non-profit that assists those in need with clothing, furniture, medical care, housing, and many other social services. Another day they helped package up dog food for those who had difficulty purchasing food for their pets.

“Our second day was going door-to-door evangelizing. We knocked on doors and asked kids if they wanted to come outside and play with us. We also went to Grace Grapevine, a place where people with limited means can shop with dignity,” Adrian Cantu, senior.

The students not only reap the rewards of giving back, but they build friendships and camaraderie with each other along the way.

“We bond as a mission team during the five days we are together. We eat meals together, worship together, and help people together. It’s a rewarding experience because you are growing as a person and helping others at the same time,” said Ellie Clark, senior at IWA.

The program is open to sophomores, juniors and seniors who maintain good grades and have excellent conduct at school. Attendance at weekly meetings is required. Although there is no charge for students to participate in a mission trip, there are multiple fundraising opportunities for students, which help pay for the bus ride to their location, accommodations, and meals noted Cartwright.

“Our biggest fundraiser is our poinsettia sale in December,” she added. “And any students are welcomed to join us, Catholic or not. This year, former IWA students who had been on a previous mission trip joined us as chaperones. These college students gave up their spring break at college to participate, so that is special.”

The students are not only making a difference in the lives of others, but they are gaining a new perspective on how to be grateful for the everyday things they have.