Monday, January 26, 2009
Still Not Enough
Saturday, at 10 a.m., my friend came along with me to assist in the preparation and distribution of sac lunches to Everett's homeless community. Because of the latest salmonella scare, Sharon bought lunch meat rather than peanut butter and jam, and we were also blessed by the Vineyard church members, a married couple, who showed up bearing gifts of egg salad, 3 more loaves of bread, and fruit leather snacks. This gave us much more food than we had originally started with. We split up into groups of threes and I drove our group down to the mission, where many of our homeless men will either stay, or attempt to stay at, especially in such bitterly cold conditions as we've had. There was no chatting with these men, as the 3 big bags full of lunches were gone in just seconds of arriving. There was still not enough food for two more men that didn't beat the "lunch rush", but I don't know that there really ever is. I believe that whatever efforts are contributed to helping another person is meaningful. Big or small. Responding when a person asks you a question, taking a friend out to lunch, offering to be a part of something without being asked, as my friend did. These are all meaningful acts of kindness. We can all successfully contribute to our surroundings and make an impact.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Service Learning Experience
I met with Sharon on Saturday to distribute sack lunches to Everett's community of homeless and low-income people. There were a group of about eight of us, including Vineyard's Church members and other students, who met first at the college to watch a documentary on homeless youth in Seattle. This film really exposed me to a side of life I have never put any thought into. A large percentage of homeless are people who have run away, been kicked out, or who have been in some way institutionalized.
While preparing meals consisting of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, oranges and capri-suns, I felt like I was back in my kitchen preparing lunch for my children. It was very comforting and uplifting to be a part of this group working together on a mission to serve our local community. As we exited the church doors onto Wetmore Avenue, I couldn't help but feel butterflies in my stomach. Our intentions set aside, how would I be received when I told someone that I was with a meal outreach program and asked if they were hungry? We were received well, that's how. After splitting off into smaller groups, and covering a good chunk of ground, we had handed out all 32 lunches that we had set out with.
Now the clouds did not part for me during this experience. I felt like I had spent my Saturday doing something I should have been doing; being a part of something greater than my own self obsession, beyond my four walls and it felt refreshing.
While preparing meals consisting of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, oranges and capri-suns, I felt like I was back in my kitchen preparing lunch for my children. It was very comforting and uplifting to be a part of this group working together on a mission to serve our local community. As we exited the church doors onto Wetmore Avenue, I couldn't help but feel butterflies in my stomach. Our intentions set aside, how would I be received when I told someone that I was with a meal outreach program and asked if they were hungry? We were received well, that's how. After splitting off into smaller groups, and covering a good chunk of ground, we had handed out all 32 lunches that we had set out with.
Now the clouds did not part for me during this experience. I felt like I had spent my Saturday doing something I should have been doing; being a part of something greater than my own self obsession, beyond my four walls and it felt refreshing.
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