For senior Emily Schmitz, spring break is more than relaxing on the beach. She is taking advantage of her week off to make a difference in the world.

“It didn’t even cross my mind to not do a mission trip type thing,” Schmitz said. “I’d just been really looking forward to doing something exactly like this.”

Her current job at Feed My Starving Children, a non-profit organization dedicated to feeding the poor in developing countries, inspired her desire to do service.

“I really just wanted to see the food on the other side of things,” Schmitz said. “I’ve seen it (the food) being packed … but I really want to see it on the other side.”

Judy Watke, Coon Rapids site supervisor, said Feed My Starving Children sends about 40 percent of its meals to Haiti because it is the most impoverished nation in the world.

“What we know is that all around the world, kids want to be loved. They want to be fed. They want to be nurtured,” Watke said. “Trips like this one that Emily is going on will give her the privilege of doing that.”

Schmitz will be working with one of FMSC’s distribution partners in Haiti and has gotten encouragement from her co-workers who have previously done service there.

“Our whole team is excited about Emily going to Haiti,” Watke said. “We’re all supporting her in that.”

As for Schmitz, she is excited about the opportunity to live out the St. Thomas tradition of advancing the common good.

“I just think I’m excited to see a completely different part of this world than I’ve ever seen or ever have known about,” Schmitz said, “and just excited to be humbled by that experience.”

Baihly Warfield can be reached at warf3860@stthomas.edu.