Reunion Video

Music by Sufjan Stevens, "Chicago"

Justin's Summation

Now that this alternative spring break is coming to a close, I am extremely sad. I have grown to love and appreciate everyone in my group for their own fun and quirky individual personalities. Kelsey for her outrageous laugh and her personality that is just as loud. Caroline for her passion and hilarious language. Lauren for her coinage of fresh dope jive terms. Chul for his randomness and mysteriousness. Brian for his chivalry and humor. Helen for her asian games and her funny-as-shit laugh slash mannerisms. Natalia for her big heart. Britt for her secret Uno skills and shopping addiction. Dana for her meekness and seemingly out of nowhere sass. Fitz for our inside laughing moments like when she almost sneezed but then didn't and I laughed haha. Sarah Middleton for her naps and kindness. Whitney for her taboo skills. Ayushi for her nonstop smiling and awesome choice of majors, duh. Shannon for her lack of card swipe and incredibly nice nature. And obviously Dian for his competitive nature and hilar-cats (rawr) comments. But even more than getting to know everyone on the trip, I learned an immense amount about the issue of homelessness. I found my stereotypical idea of what a homeless person is to be be completely false. And I hope to go back to College Park with an educational approach on what to do to help the larger situation. This is my last and final post. So goodnight and good luck, adios.

Last Day- In Pictures

By Dian Squire

Friday March 26th, Justin G

Today was quite the blast if I do say so myself. It began with a delightful breakfast shared with my good friend Chul. I had swiss cheese on a bagel, an idea swiped from Dian. And then we left and took the bus to Deborah's Place, a shelter for women who are no longer homeless. We learned a lot about the different types of programs that the ladies have the opportunities to partake in. Then we got to interact and meet some of them. The first woman Jackie was really funny and like a typical woman, bragging about her kids and grandkids. It was so cute how she was telling us about how her grandkids are all A students. But she took one look at my guages in my ears and was like, "Those are so ugly, why did you do that!?" I came back with no response and just laughed it off. Then we met Paula and her friend. When we were playing bingo we had so much fun. Despite my never winning until the four corners game it was really nice to see the women and pick our prizes. Another group was there and one member of their group was sleeping almost the entire day there. I was really disappointed to see how much passion they lacked. Overall it was a great day. I also got the chance to see my grandparents and my great grandma. We went out to eat at this place and the food was delish-cats (rawr). I also got the opportunity to walk around the city alone listening to awesome city-walking music. Then we played some fun games like Taboo and Scategories. I am so much better at the former. Okay blogging complete for today, time to shower. Adios mi amigos!

You are walking down the street to meet your friends for lunch at a local city restaurant. The streets are bustling and you are hustling to make your lunch date. You hear some change clanging in a cup and look to your right, the source of the sounds. There stands a homeless man. FREEZE: What was the image that just popped into your head? Be honest me with, with yourself. An African-American male? Is he an alcoholic? A drug addict? Is he uneducated? Do you think that he has made poor decisions in his life that have warranted his situation? If you did, I'm going to be honest too; a week ago, I would have been right there with you thinking of the most stereotypical descriptions of the homeless man. But the most amazing gift has been presented to me during this trip. It has awarded me with an unclouded view of the homeless and hungry in America. Every interaction I have had thus far in this trip at varying organizations such as Marillac and CCO have contributed to breaking down my uneducated preconceived notions.

Sometimes, due to budget cuts and job layoffs at companies across America and lack of affordable housing, families are thrown to the streets. Sometimes, an injury will prevent someone from finding any jobs that pay enough to support livings costs. Sometimes, life will throw curve balls that no one will be able to bounce back from.

From now on, whenever I pass that homeless person, I will no longer avert my eyes and walk a little faster, but just talk to them, learn their name, and treat them like the deserving human being that they are, just like me, just like you.

-Helen

Day 5- In Pictures

By Dian Squire

Day 4- The Source

We went to the Greater Chicago Food Depository yesterday. We aptly named it, "The Source." This is where millions upon millions of pounds of food ship from every year to the many food pantries, shelters and other organizations in Cook County, IL. The volunteer coordinator said that over 1 million pounds of food goes out a month and that it takes over 90,000 volunteer hours and over 150 full-time employees to coordinate efforts to get that done. Without volunteers they would have to hire over 40 more full-time employees and spends hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in salaries and benefits. Instead, that money can go to the hungry.

Today we repackaged 10 lb bags of oranges from large 1000 lb slats into 60 lb boxes to be shipped to organizations across the county. Luckily, a group of high school baseball players was next to us and we took it upon ourselves to use them as a little friendly competition to see who could pack the most oranges in the allotted time. As expected, we packed more than double their total. In total, both groups and a smaller church organization packed over 24,000 lbs of oranges to be distributed across the county. It was a great feeling, fun and everybody bonded over it.

There was a downside in that we had to identify oranges that were moldy or rotten because the Greater Chicago Food Depository takes great care in ensuring that all food that leaves the depository is high quality. In total, we had to set aside approx. 1500 lbs of oranges. They have to be weighed and separated and hopefully GCFD will get a refund. We were also thinking about how Marillac had very little fruit and how the clients there put on their surveys that they wished they had fruit. We wish we had more time to talk to the volunteer coordinators about how they distribute the fruit across the city. Cook County is huge, so it's natural that not everybody is going to get everything, but it'd be nice to know. We had a lot of time packing and bonding and competing, but also forgot to ask the important questions.

Lastly, it seems that everybody's mindset has changed rather dramatically. During each reflection, somebody comes in and says that today they looked at a homeless person differently, that they talked to them a bit more, offered them food or money, or just a handshake and smile. We talked about guilt and if we should be able to spend our own money on ourselves without feeling guilty about not giving it to a charity or person. We decided that it was okay as long as you give something of yourself. It could be time or money. It doesn't have to be your own possessions to make a difference. As long as intention is good, than you are good.

Day 4- In Pictures

By Dian Squire

Day 3

Today, we worked with the Cornerstone Community Outreach organization.  We sorted through tons of donated clothes, helped sent up their kitchen and served a free lunch for all who were hungry.  All of these tasks were incredibly rewarding, however nothing compares to a simple lesson I learned while eating lunch with a few homeless gentlemen.  A man by the name of George told me about his childhood growing up in Chicago.  He told me all about the first Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie.  He must have told me the same story six times.  The joy in his eyes while he was telling me made me realize: we worry much too much about what we want.  When we make friends, we look for people who have similar interests.  We look for someone with connections.  The thing we easily forget in the day to day life is the human connection.  Instead of looking at what can this person do for me, we need to think what can I do for this person. I was not interested in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, but nothing made me happier than seeing that man so joyful.  Without even trying he did more for me then anyone trying to ever could.

"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ³ But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." -Matthew 6:2-4

One's reward is greater when they do not seek reward.


By Brian Cadigan

Day 3

"If you focus on results, you will never change. If you focus on change, you will get results." -Jack Dixon

Day 3

Today I talked with Alonzo, a homeless man who does not have a steady job, has to get food from the shelter (Cornerstone Community Outreach), and is separated from his children. He has barely anything. Yet he trusts in God an extraordinary amount. He just goes with the flow because he knows that God will provide for him, no matter what. He has a ton of hope. On the other hand, I have so many things. I have a plan for the next few years of my life - a paid-for education at a well-known university, a job, a house to live in, a dining plan that provides me with an abundance of food, and way too many material possessions. Yet I don't have that trust in God or that hope that he has. I am so much more certain about my future. Alonzo is not certain that he will have a job in the next few weeks or money for food and clothing. It's astounding and amazing to me that someone with so little and so much uncertainty can have so much hope.

We should be learning from this.

Can we have as much hope for the homeless as they have for themselves? Without that hope, can anything change?

Day 3

Tuesday 3/22

Today was a lot of fun. We went to the cornerstone community outreach. I had the privelage of working in the kitchen most of the day. I got to cut loaves of bread with Lauren and I destroyed her in our competition of speed and precision. And then we got into an assembly line to serve the food. It was so eye opening to me personally to see all the different types of people. Our job serving food was really nonstop and busy. But we got to interact with everyone and the majority were pretty grateful and kind. One gentleman bonded with me through our hatred of Duke University. We also sorted through a massive amount of donations an transported them across the street. This was hard work especially during the cold windy rain. Oh and meeting Alonzo was another highlight of my day. After our service today 9 of us went to the aquarium. It was over $20 but totes worth it. My favorite part was the jellyfish. They were in a tank that changed colors and somehow (following dana's lead) putting your face right up against the glass made all the difference. We had an awesome taco dinner and some really good reflection. The people's faith at CCO was so inspiring to me. Sometimes I stress about how deep my faith is, would my devotion or passion for Christ change if I was in any kind of traumatic situation like that. Well see ya later readers, ciao.

Day 3- Uniqueness

Two organizations. Two unique ways to deal with hunger an homelessness. Two eye-opening experiences. Client Choice. Family sleeping arrangements. Progressive. Positive. Inspiring. Enabling. Passionate. Smiling faces.

By Dian Squire

Day 3- In Pictures

By Dian Squire