Wrapped In Compassion: Segmenting Graduate Fellows’ Experiences in Clothing and Care Outreach

Abstract

This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of graduate students who participated in the “WRAP in LOVE: A Community Clothing & Care Initiative” of San Pablo Colleges (SPC) Graduate School. The outreach program was conducted as part of SPC’s 80th founding anniversary and in response to the Octomonth theme -Clothe the Naked. Designed to serve both orphans and elderly individuals in homes for the aged through clothing donations and care sessions, the initiative provided a platform for graduate fellows to engage in socially transformative service. A total of 12 key informants—two each from MAEd, EdD, MA Counseling, MAN, MBA, and DBA programs—were selected using purposive sampling. Using the ORID (Objective, Reflective, Interpretive, and Decisional) framework for focused conversation and reflection, the study gathered rich narrative data on how fellows described their experiences, internalized their learnings, and envisioned future actions. Thematic analysis revealed that students underwent emotional shifts from hesitation to empathy, gained critical insights about human dignity and social responsibility, and expressed a renewed commitment to integrating service into their future professions. Findings emphasized the role of experiential learning in building civic consciousness, ethical leadership, and intergenerational compassion. The study concludes that structured outreach initiatives, when integrated with critical reflection, have lasting pedagogical and professional impact. It recommends institutionalizing similar programs in graduate education and calls for future interdisciplinary collaborations and longitudinal impact assessments. WRAP in LOVE is not merely a clothing drive—it is a formative journey in shaping servant-leaders grounded in empathy, equity, and community care.