Appa Volunteers 鈥� more commonly called 鈥淎ppa鈥� 鈥� is a service-immersion program committed to working with under-resourced populations in the United States via shared service and direct encounter. The heart of our work is spent in community, when we travel to 30 different cities and towns during spring break, living in solidarity alongside the families that we commit to serve.

What We Do

Learn, through discussion and reflection, about the societal realities in the United States that leave some marginalized.

Consider how our faith asks us to respond to the social injustices that create entrenched poverty.

Foster a commitment to service throughout the year.

Embrace the Gospel鈥檚 call to 鈥渓ove one another.鈥�

Appa Volunteers is an alternative spring break service-immersion program committed to working alongside underserved populations in the United States. More than 400 students travel coast-to-coast with us each year, encountering community and service in both urban areas (New Orleans, Detroit, etc.) and rural areas (throughout the South and the Appalachian regions)

We meet biweekly throughout the school year to learn about the structural and social realities that leave some people marginalized, and we draw on Boston College鈥檚 Jesuit tradition in considering how faith might ask us to respond to social injustices.

Joining Appa is as easy as showing up. We have no application process; any student who wants to participate can. We simply ask that you complete our registration form and commit to the following requirements:

Terms & Conditions:听All students participating in Appa must submit basic registration information听and the program鈥檚 terms and conditions form online.

Participation and Attendance

General Formation Meetings:听See timeline below

Meeting Attendance:听Attendance听at meetings is mandatory. Members who cannot make a meeting should e-mail ahead of time to alert them of their absence. Continued unexcused absences may result in dismissal from the program.

Finances and Fundraising

Program Fee:听There is a $100 program fee for Appa.

搁补蹿蹿濒别:听Students are responsible for selling听and submitting at least $200 worth of raffle tickets by January 26, 2025. Raffle information will be shared at our general meeting on Sunday, December 8, 2024.听

You can submit raffle payment via cash, check (payable to Boston College), or credit card. To pay via credit card:

  1. 痴颈蝉颈迟听
  2. Log in with 51茶馆 username and password via听Sign in to My Account听button in the upper right hand corner
  3. Under the list of UMM Programs You Have Been Accepted Into, click the red Make Payment听button on the Appa Volunteers line
  4. Enter the amount you would like to pay in the respective Payment Amount field and click听Make Payment
  5. You will be redirected to the secure CashNet page where you can submit your payment information. You will receive an email confirming your successful payment.

Timeline 2024-2025
PurposeDatesTimeLocation
General Formation MeetingOctober 6, 20243:30 p.m. ESTEagles Nest - McElroy
General Formation Meeting
Introduction to Letter Campaign		October 20, 20243:30 p.m. ESTEagles Nest - McElroy
General Formation MeetingNovember 3, 20243:30 p.m. ESTEagles Nest - McElroy
General Formation Meeting
Letter Campaign Due		November 17, 20243:30 p.m. ESTEagles Nest - McElroy
General Formation Meeting
Introduction to Appa Raffle		December 8, 20243:30 p.m. ESTEagles Nest - McElroy
General Formation
Appa Raffle Due		January 26, 20253:30 p.m EST听Eagles Nest - McElroy
General Formation Meeting
*Meeting time rescheduled from 2-3:30 p.m. due to SuperBowl Sunday		February 9, 20252:00 p.m. ESTEagles Nest - McElroy
Final Pre-Trip General MeetingFebruary 23, 20253:30 p.m. ESTEagles Nest - McElroy
Appa Volunteers Sending Forth LiturgyFebruary 28, 20255:00 p.m. ESTSt. Ignatius Chapel
Appa Trips!March 2 - 7, 2025听听
Unpacking AppaMarch 23, 20253:30 p.m ESTEagles Nest - McElroy

Appa Volunteers is animated by the work of 56 Student Leaders (SLs) in all facets of the program.

The following leadership positions are available:听

  • Appa Leaders are extensively trained on servant leadership and service immersion practices. Appa SLs are assigned in pairs or triplets to each site, and commit to facilitate respectful, safe, and meaningful experiences for participants and community partners.


  • Appa Council Members are 12 SLs that serve as the program鈥檚 executive leadership team. They work collectively to plan and execute fundraising initiatives, formation planning and trip logistics.听


  • Appa Head Coordinators are two students who serve as 鈥渓eaders of leaders鈥� in Appa鈥檚 community of Student Leaders and participants. They work closely with the Appa Campus Minister and Graduate Assistant and dedicate their time overseeing all Appa Council committees and much of the behind-the-scenes work that goes into Appa.听


Applications for leadership positions in the 2025 - 2026 academic year will be avaiable in March 2025.听

Thank you for considering a donation to the Appa Volunteers. Your tax-deductible donation is a valuable investment in a learning experience that many Boston College students will carry with them for the rest of their lives.

Donate Online

  • Visit the听Online Giving Form
  • Enter your information; for the field "I wish to make my gift to:鈥� select Appa Volunteers. If you are sponsoring a certain student, please select "In honor of a 51茶馆 student," and include their name and year.
  • Click "Submit Gift"

Mail a Check

Appa Volunteers Program
Boston College, Office of Campus Ministry
McElroy Commons 233
140 Commonwealth Avenue
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467

If your corporation matches donations, please enclose the appropriate forms.

Appa Volunteers, under the umbrella of the 51茶馆, is a non-profit 501(c)3 with a federal tax exemption number of 04-2103545.

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Email

Mailing Address
Boston College, Office of Campus Ministry
Attn: Appa Volunteers
140 Commonwealth Avenue, McElroy Commons 233
Chestnut Hill, MA听 02467

Campus Minister
Jake Blicharz
jacob.blicharz@bc.edu
617-552-3230

Graduate Assistant
Jorge Sanchez
sanchjor@bc.edu

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