Chantal: Post Trip Reflections

I can’t believe it has already been a week since we left New York! The trip was amazing! Honestly I didn't expect it to impact me as much as it did. I really loved the different ways we volunteered throughout our stay in NYC. One day we volunteered at a soup kitchen, another day we did random acts of kindness, and the last day we made PB&J sandwiches and handed them out to the homeless people. I really like working one on one with the people in New York. We got to talk to them and interact with them. We were able to hear some of their stories too. I think working directly with the people of New York allowed me to see them as humans with different backgrounds. Before this trip it was easy to lump all homeless people together, but now I see them each as an important individual person.

In fact, the most important thing I learned was probably to see everyone as a person that deserves attention and the right to be treated as a human. I think the people I interacted with taught me this. I loved that this trip allowed us the opportunity to not only serve the homeless but to also serve ordinary people. We handed out flowers to random people and broke down the walls that many people in New York have up. It allowed for a moment of intimacy and human to human contact in this busy world.

I would definitely want my peers to know that the serving does not have to be a super big and difficult thing to do. It can be as simple as buying someone lunch or giving away a flower. I would also want my peers to know that we don’t only have to serve the homeless but we can also serve each other to make the world a better place. I would convince them of these points by showing them the videos and pictures we took. However, I think the best way to prove this to them is to bring them volunteering with me.

I think the influencers of this community include the mayor, major business owners and the ordinary people who live in the community. I would want them to know that little steps in the right direction can make a big difference. I would also want them to change their view of the homeless in society. I think we often think of them as a nuisance, but we should view them as people who have fallen on hard times and need a helping hand.

Overall I had an awesome time serving in NYC and I can’t wait to serve here in Philly!

~Chantal

On our arrival at the hostel, we were told to walk into the "New York Room", and was definitely blown away by the decor of the place. It is a red room, filled with a variety of photography. We were curious as to what this photography was about, but soon enough, learned that it was taken by a 16 year old and her mother. They are venturing on a 6 month adventure around the world creating a documentary. How cool is that?! They are a family from Toronto, and this picture was actually taken by the girl in her hometown of Toronto. It is called One Billion Rising. The name came from a statistic that 1 in 3 women will be beaten or raped in their lifetime. She was trying to encourage the international movement for women's rights to take awareness against violence. I'm really impressed at her maturity and passion for photography and her ability to capture significant themes in a simple picture.

-Michele

Jessica and Manna

     Today was our first day volunteering. We woke up around 6:45, got ready and took the subway to our destinations. My group went to Manna of Life to help make lunches for people who couldn't afford it. When we got there, the people at the hostel were so thankful we were there. They were short handed and when 17 of us showed up they were absolutely ecstatic. They told us we were "miracles."(: We made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and tuna fish sandwiches and then put them into paper bags with juice and some fruit. People young and old came in and got a cup of soup and a lunch bag. It was such a rewarding experience to see the smiles on their faces when they received something as simple as a cup of soup. They would respond with a warm smile and a "thank you" or a "God bless you." A couple of people came in and actually had conversations with us. One man in particular told us how he was working and then got fired because they were hiring newer, younger employees. He started going to Manna of Life every Saturday to get lunch and now he is working for a charter school. He said he never appreciated money and his old job when he had it. Now that he knows what its like to lose everything he appreciates all that he has. He told me he's at work an hour early every morning because his job is important to him. He kept telling us "everyone has a story," and whether its a good or bad story its still our story and we should share it.
      I find it so ironic that these people who dedicate every Saturday to helping people in need, could call us miracles when they are miracles themselves. As soon as we walked through the doors you could tell these people were good-hearted, wonderful people and well, miracle workers. Mirna the Vice President of Manna of Life Ministries was one of the sweetest ladies I have ever met. Talking to her made me feel like the laziest person in the world. She has a family to take care of and a little granddaughter who she loves. She worked until almost midnight the night before and then came in at 6:00 Saturday morning so she could make soup. It was such an amazing experience, that made me think about what I'm doing with my life. Today also made me really appreciate what I have and realize how lucky I actually am.
-Jessica Schell

Blog Post #1

Evatt Holmstrom

During the day's excursion into serving the community, there was a plethora of opportunity to observe the inner workings of how a service project functions, and how the efforts put forth by those who volunteer their time to make it whole project possible effect the greater good of the community. Starting with the mass preparation of the food. to the packaging process, all the way to the actual distribution of the food, it was a group undertaking, and everyone needed to contribute in order for the day to be successful. As I was out in the streets of the Bronx and looking at those who were in need of our help, I saw how those people were not just commonplace panhandlers. They were actual people struggling to get by in the vast, ever-changing concrete jungle in need of a small boost to help them with their daily grind. Most of the people were thankful for our presence and appreciated the meal that we provided for them. Overall, I would consider this day to be both an accomplishment for the people we helped in the community service project, and for me as a person by being able to witness the struggle that those people face and be able to to help them make their day just that much better.

Manna of Life Ministries Outreach

Today, my group volunteered at Manna of Life Ministries in the Bronx. We made and packaged lunches with sandwiches, apples, bananas, and juice. After we finished making the bagged lunches, a smaller group went out and distributed them at three different sites. Two of these sites were gas stations and the other was at a halfway-house. I was really surprised at how many people we served in such a short amount of time since it was cold and raining. I guess it just goes to show how desperately some people need basic amenities like something to eat or drink and how important organizations like Manna of Life Ministries are in providing services to those in needs. One of the staff at Manna of Life Ministries was telling the group about how important volunteering is. He said that so many people think they're going to change the world but never do. The only way to change the world, he said, is to start small - whether it's in our own school, our own hometown, or even in someone else's community. Making a change in your everyday relationships will have a ripple effect. If you treat others kindly and do good for them, they will be inspired to be kind and do good deeds for others. In this way, a single person can make a huge difference. I saw that all of the people we served and all of the staff at Manna of Life Ministries really appreciated our presence there and our willingness to act on behalf of others. One man even remarked to a group of my friends and I, "The world needs more people like you."

-Kimberly 

Homelessness: Always a Problem

Today we spit up into two, and eventually three groups to help out with two different soup kitchens to serve the community. The morning began with piles and piles of tuna fish and PB&J followed by an assembly line of sandwiches and fruit. From there we split up into two groups to serve the food to the community, essentially an outreach program. Our driver, Jose, was our historian as well as tour guide of the Bronx. He had some very interesting stories, but the one thing that remained consistent was how when he was a kid and before most parts of the lower half of the city, such as the Bronx, Harlem, and East Side were full of drugs, prostitutes, and slums. However, today the only "poor" area that remains is the Bronx, and according to him one day even that will disappear. Yet what always remains consistent is the homeless and need for jobs no matter what district. We saw many unemployed immigrant workers standing underneath overhangs at gas stations just looking for day time work. These people come to America hoping to find jobs in order to send money back home only to be left out in the cold. It's really sad. While the rest of the city may have been cleaned up and dramatically changed since the 1970s, there is still a large homeless problem that needs to be addressed before the parts of the city can really be called "clean".
-Amy

Student Diaries: Serving in My Backyard

 

This past summer I was blessed with the opportunity to travel to Ghana and Guyana to serve others. Those trips were amazing and I am very grateful for the experiences I had there.

Recently though, I have been learning that I don't need to travel across the world to help those in need. In America, there are many people that are in poverty, homeless, or just in need of a helping hand. I go to school very close to Center City, Philadelphia, and when I walk through the streets of the city, I see many needs.

I want to learn how to serve the people in my area and so this March, actually in 3 days... I am traveling to New York City on a service trip for 5 days. I know, I know... New York isn't the same as Philly, but I think the lessons I learn in New York will be very valuable and applicable to Philly. I am traveling to New York with the Honors Program from my school, Philadelphia University. While in New York, we will be staying in a Hostel and will be serving at the Caldwell Temple Soup Kitchen.

I think the thing I want to learn the most on this trip is how to relate to people that are homeless or might not be in the best situation. I want to hear their stories and see them as real people. I know I often walk by homeless people on the streets of Philly without taking a second look, but that isn't right.

I have so much, and the least I can give is my service and time. Hopefully this trip to New York City will be the start of me serving in my own backyard.

~ Chantal
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