Saturday, February 4, 2012

Feed My Starving Children: Volunteering and Bonding with Other Catalyst Trip Members

Amrit, Rachel, Nicole, Lauren, Katie, Faduma and Yvette
         Seven members of our group made it to FMSC on Monday, January 30th from 8:00-9:30pm. This was the first of many volunteer opportunities that we will be involved in as preparation for our week in D.C. It was several students' first time at FMSC and we all learned a lot. In our time spent at the center, we packed 113 cases worth of nutritious food (Chicken, Vegetables, Soy and Rice). This amount of food that was packed will feed 66 children for a year!!
Yvette and Faduma helping pack the nutritious meals
It is amazing what an hour of volunteering can produce. We are all very excited about our next opportunity and future community education and community building that will be initiated between the our members, organizations at Hamline, and local elementary and middle school classrooms.

Before going to D.C. our group will be collecting clothing, food and essential products that are needed by individuals who are homeless. The group will then be dividing up the donations received and giving them to individuals both in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area as well as in the D.C. area. If you would like to aid in our efforts, please contact Nicole at ncampbell03@hamlineuniversity.edu or Yvette at ydiaz05@hamlineuniversity.edu.

Katie and Amrit working their way to case number 3
Continue to read our blog and hear from students as their views on homelessness are challenged, modified and/or strengthened. The following weeks leading up to the trip will include education about homelessness, but we will not stop learning after the trip. We will continue to learn and experience homelessness. Just because the trip will be ending, does not mean that our learning stops. It is one of many opportunities and educational experiences that will guide these students to continue volunteering until the programs and/or views of the homeless are changed or homelessness in the United States is eradicated.