Many faiths have a duty to help others in need and work together in order to promote that greater good. Saturday was no exception as students from the Catholic Student Association, Muslim Student Association and United Christian Ministries volunteered together.

The three groups joined forces at the University Parish Newman Center to help make sandwiches and hygiene kits for underprivileged people in the area. These packages will then go to Kent Social Services, a branch of Family and Community Services Inc., and be distributed to low-income families and individuals.

“It’s like what do we do with our pain?” Rev. Lauren Odell-Scott, director of United Christian Ministries, said in regard to the recent energy formed by the students from the deaths of the three Muslim students in Chapel Hill. “We’ve been doing a lot things together all along, UCM and MSA. This time we’re able to partner with CSA, and some of the students with Hillel have also been supportive too.”

The 13 students produced more than 30 hygiene kits and 68 sandwiches by the end of the day.

“We’ve done interfaith stuff before,” said Jack Veatch, a senior business management major and president of UCM.

Past events include building kits for victims in the Japanese earthquake and tsunami and survivors of 9/11 and helping with the vigil for the Chapel Hill victims.

Veatch and Rami Kalash, a senior pre-med major and president of MSA, had worked together in past events for those in need.

UCM is an intentionally ecumenical interfaith community that builds bridges, Odell-Scott said.

“This is something we would definitely like to continue,” said Mandy Schneider, senior integrated health sciences major and president of CSA. “It’s always nice to have things going on between different organizations especially the religious organizations in Kent. I think that’s a thing we all strive for, getting to interact with other students in campus and getting to know their stories.”

Contact Skye McEowen at [email protected].