PACH Thanksgving

On Saturday November 22nd, a small group of us volunteered at PACH to help give Thanksgiving baskets to those in need.  PACH is a small outreach community located in Pepperell, whose goal is to help provide for the basic needs of Pepperell residents by supplying them with food and personal care items.  From 11 to 3, we brought boxes out to the cars of those who signed up to receive Thanksgiving boxes, complete with a turkey, as well as apples, potatoes and other traditional holiday food items.  When we first arrived, I was amazed by the sheer number of people who had come to volunteer, as the NOLA group was not the only group of people there, which made the service go by very quickly.  As the day progressed however, it became clear that we could use all the help we could get, particularly around midday, when every volunteer was either bringing boxes or turkeys out to people’s cars, or checking people in to begin their service.  At the end of the afternoon, it was very satisfying to look at nearly a dozen empty tables, knowing that these tables had all been covered with boxes of food, which were now going to enrich so many families Thanksgivings. It's truly amazing how much a group of people can make a difference in the community around us.


                              -Travis Horan

Tis the Season for Giving

A week ago today the North Middlesex Service Learning groups held their annual Giving Tree sorting day where parents, students, and community members can go to help purchase, sort and wrap gifts for those struggling this holiday season.  My brother and I went fairly early in the morning (9:30 counts as early on a Saturday morning) and I was shocked to see how many people were up early on their Saturday mornings and were willing to help.  There were parents wrapping gifts, students sorting them, and even college kids who had participated in the Service Learning programs had made an appearance while home on their winter breaks.  The Giving Tree sorting day truly embodies what this season is all about; giving.  Every child and family deserves to receive something on Christmas and thats exactly what Giving Tree is set out to do.

Our Father's 12/12

Last Friday, I went to Our Father’s House to make and serve a Turkey dinner to members of this transitional home. This was my third or forth time going to Our Father’s and it by far was the most inspirational. Since it was so close to Christmas, one of the random acts our service learning program did was to make small gift bags for each member at Our Father’s House. This is something we do every year but this year, I got to hand deliver them to the members after they finished their meal. It is truly amazing to see what a difference a seemingly insignificant act of kindness can do for someone in need. One of the highlights of my night was delivering gifts to the women upstairs. They were extremely grateful for the presents and were quite complimentary of our turkey. It was in all a very memorable experience and I am very grateful to have the opportunity to dedicate my time to service.

Today, I was helping our Giving Tree program organize and give gifts to the families that came to pick them up.  Although hectic, I had one of the most moving experiences. As I was helping a woman bring her children’s gifts to her car, she began to thank me. She told me that since she was a single mother of two and on disability, her children usually only received one present on Christmas if that. The woman began to breakdown in tears because she was so grateful for what we did. I didn’t really know what to say because I was in awe. I was in awe because I never really understood what these gifts and this program meant for people. I knew it effected people’s lives but to witness it face to face was a very clarifying experience.

Abby Haines

Giving Tree Sorting Day

I have declared many times in the past 3 years that Giving Tree Sorting Day is my favorite day of the entire year. The music, the gifts, wrapping the presents, the atmosphere is just so happy and perfect. I was extremely glad to be going back to the sorting day this year because I missed last years event while I was on vacation (I spent that entire day snapchatting and texting my friends asking about the event...and I might have cried a little bit). Usually I tend to stay at the high school all day and wrap gifts until they're all sorted, but this year I went out with a group of friends to go shopping during part of the afternoon. It was a lot more fun than I thought it would be: I imagined that it would be intimidating trying to find all the gifts in time, and I had this irrational fear that we'd lose someone in the store. But the trip was really successful and we got back in time to help wrap more gifts. I also got an opportunity to bond with some really close friends and one I didn't know so well before. I think all around everyone has a good time on sorting day, even the coordinators who stress out trying to keep us all organized. We all get a really good feeling from knowing that each bag of presents represents a good Christmas for a kid whether they are a toddler or a teenager (yes that does sound cheesy, but it's almost impossible to be sentimental about Christmas without sounding cheesy). On top of all that, several graduated students come back to visit and help out; It was really nice to see some of the kids that I went on previous service trips with. And their arrival always reminds me that I can come back in later years, which is nice to know because Christmas doesn't really feel like Christmas without sorting day.  :)

-Ally Waxman

Heifer Christmas Sunday 15th

So after going to Heifer's Fall Harvest, I decided I wanted to return to Heifer as soon as possible. Well, Heifer this Sunday had a holiday event in which we were able to volunteer our time. There were various activities like always. It was a much smaller group then the last time I had gone. Only 9 of us girls, while last time their were like 30 kids. This was probably due to this event being a smaller event at Heifer. Although the turn out was still good and there were plenty of little kids. Me and Taylor were on chestnut and marshmallow roasting duty in the morning. We weren't the best cause we might have let the fire die. We then went inside to enjoy some wonderful soup and bread. The rest of the day consisted of parking duty (which I would say we were much better at), playing with the guinea pigs, a hayride that me and Olivia snuck in, and a nice group picture with Sally the goat. It was a very beautiful day with strong gusts of cold wind! It was enjoyable however, like always and I will be looking for the next Heifer event.

~Evelyn

Heifer International Living Gifts Market

If making an hour car ride out to middle-of-nowhere Rutland, MA, spending your Sunday outside on a farm in the 30 degree weather for 6 hours with whipping winds from the mountains turning your snot into icicles, making your eyes water, and drying what little moisture you may have had out of your skin doesn’t sound like a good time, then you’ve clearly never been to Heifer International events. This was my third time at one of the Heifer events, yet each and every time I learn new things and am easily reminded of how fun it is to escape life in Townsend for a while. The traditional and bare to the bone basic way of living and conducting at Heifer is a breath of fresh air (quite literally) and reminds me that, like all things magnificent, it is very simple. The simplicity is something I look forward to each time, as well as the staff and volunteers there, whom are greatly appreciative of us volunteering for the event and are always so kind and friendly. While Tim and I spent the majority of our day at the small fire teaching children how to roast chestnuts and marshmallows, others worked at directing the event parking, decorating gingerbread cookies, monitoring the petting area of the guinea pigs, photographing Sally the goat, and walking around the barn with all the animals. Although I recollect that last year’s living gift market had a larger turnout in visitors, all in all, it was such a fun day and I can’t wait to go back.

If any readers are interested, the link to the giving catalog can be found below. Purchase animals from Heifer this holiday season to be shipped to a family in need! 

http://www.heifer.org/gift-catalog/index.html

-Dominique

For my first venture out to Rutland, I was happily surprised at what the Heifer farm was like. I was deeply amazed at how Heifer operates as a self sustainable farm and their mission to help spread sustainability throughout the world.  I regret how I never volunteered to make my way out there, to be a part of it all and the different people that spend their time there, to help with Heifer’s goal. Frankly, our part in the organization on Sunday was small, but it was a fun time and it was an exciting experience to be part of it. Dominique and I spent most of our time helping out at a fire pit that the volunteers had set up, roasting marshmallows and chestnuts. While at the fire, we had delightful conversation with all of the visitors that came by, families and children of all ages, who wanted to have a snack or just to get a little bit warmer. Even with the not so favorable weather conditions, I was surprised that a lot of people made their way out to the farm to enjoy the area and the animals, but mostly to enjoy spending time with each other, friends and family alike. 

-Tim

Thanksgivng

Last week we cooked a full Thanksgiving dinner for the custodial staff at our school. Once we had all of the ingredients we needed we began to cook, which took about 3 hours. Although never once did it occur to me that I was working. The happiness and motivation of the people around me not only made the work easier, but reminded me of why I love this program so much.
After we had cooked and served our meal, we left so that the custodial staff could eat without us bothering them. However, within a few minutes we were called back and invited to sit down with them and share the meal we had prepared. Honestly it was one of the best and most fun meals I have eaten in a really long time. These are the days when I feel as though I get more out of the program than I could ever really put into it.

Thanksgiving Service

        The other Saturday we volunteered at Holiday With Heart. This is an outreach program located in Worcester. From 12-4 we followed around a huge truck filled with 22 tons of potatoes, beets, carrots, squash and other vegetables. When we arrived at the facility that would be receiving the vegetables we would create a zig-zag assembly line. We would pass the huge 50 pounds of vegetables back and forth down the line. This was the first time I was participating in this service project. I wish I had done it all 3 years because it was so much fun. It is a tough job. Some of the potato bags were too heavy for me but there was always someone there to relieve you of the weight. The day after my body was extremely sore but it was so worth it! It's incredible that we were able to move 22 tons of food all over Worcester in one day. We were able to provide hundreds of families with healthy and nutritious meals. It is truly amazing how much good a group can create when we all work together.
         Our other Thanksgiving service project was putting together Thanksgiving Meal Baskets. This is a something that we do every year. This year New Orleans Service was responsible for 5 baskets and the Philly Service group was also responsible for 5. We are split into groups of 8 people and we bring in food for a families Thanksgiving. We bring in so much food we fill up laundry baskets of food. The baskets were absolutely beautiful this year! There were blankets, hats, hygiene products and food upon food. It feels amazing to know that you were able to help a family have a wonderful Thanksgiving. With all this service around Thanksgiving it was nice to reflect on what I have in my life and be truly thankful. One thing that service has taught me over my years in high school is how to be truly thankful and appreciate everything that I have in my life.

Megan Hawkins

Spaghetti Supper

    A few weeks ago the New Orleans Service Learning Program put on it’s traditional Spaghetti Supper.  As someone with an older brother who was in the program for three years it wasn’t my first time being at the Spaghetti Supper, but it was my first time helping planning the event and working at it.  Everyone in the program spent the last month working hard and dedicating their time to making sure this was the best Spaghetti Supper yet.  Honestly, I’m so proud of the way this supper turned out.  Sure there were a few hiccups along the way like a bit of a tablecloth fiasco, and running out of water in the first half hour.  But sometimes I think people tend to focus too much on what wrong at events than what went right.  

    The Donations Committee got 500 breadsticks from Olive Garden, that’s right 500.  It was the first time the supper had bread sticks, and based on how many plates filled with just breadsticks came out of the kitchen, they were a big hit.  The Silent Auction Committee made the silent auction go flawlessly and the baskets they arranged were absolutely gorgeous.  The Supper Committee did an outstanding job figuring out the layout of the room and figuring out things like how much spaghetti to buy.  Finally the Decoration Committee made some pretty thrifty 1920’s inspired centerpieces.

    I know the event didn’t go perfectly, but in a way I think that’s what made it so great.  I think we’ll all look back on how frantic everything was at the time when small obstacles came in our way and laugh.  I also hope we look back at those obstacles and become proud of ourselves as individuals and as a team.  We’re a great team, and I couldn’t be prouder of us and our Spaghetti Supper.
Sam

Fun(d) Fest

The Fun(d) Fest was the first big fundraiser of this year, and my first fundraiser as a member of the Nola group. I spent most of my time washing cars, which was much more enjoyable than I thought it would be; the cold water was pretty refreshing after standing in the mid-day sun, and there was music blaring out of the Libonate's car to listen/sing to. The only problem with working at the car wash was that it was situated near the bake sale table, and I could smell all of the various pies and breads, which made me unnecessarily hungry (A few friends [Andrew, Carly and Kevin] and I eventually caved and bought an apple pie for ourselves and scarfed it down inside). I got the opportunity to talk with a few people I didn't know very well, and danced awkwardly with a few people I now know even better. Apart from the fun we all had, the group worked hard all day: people switched jobs when needed and helped wherever they could. And when the time came to clean up everyone literally pulled their weight by dragged the tables covered in knick knacks and books inside. The next day we pulled everything back out again and kept working. The people who had worked the previous day continued with the same enthusiasm and work ethic no matter how tired they were from the day before. The final job was to package and send out the remaining yard sale items to Savers, and the front of the school looked strangely empty without them. I may have been a bit tired after 2 days of work, but I could ignore the feeling because I knew we had successfully competed our first big fundraiser, and that we had all grown closer in the process.

- Ally Waxman

My First Fun(d) Fest Experience

Fun(d) Fest was my first actual event in NOLA. To be honest I had never gone to Fun(d) Fest and did not know what to expect at all. I was on the Baking Committee( if you want to call it that). It was a fun process deciding different foods we could bake along with trying to think of fun games and activities. I think one of the bigger experiences I had with this event was at two separate times. Those events being as cliché as it might sound were being able to bound with some new people in NOLA. This event allowed me to make new friends with Laura.  Although I have had classes before with her I have never really known her. However, the Friday before Fun(d) Fest Sam, Laura, and I went to Sam's to bake an assortment of bake goods. We were all able to not only bake together but, I also got to know each of them much more. I learned that Laura does not cook or bake often, however that changed by the end of the day as she helped us and she learned to make different pies and breads. I also got to bond with Liz Marie and Sam again on the day of the actual event. I don't think I have laughed that much with someone like I did with Liz. The whole time we were trying to get people to come and get their cars washed, I was entertained. It is experiences like these, that last a lifetime. Although it is more then wonderful to help others, doing so should not be a burden. It should be enjoyable but, it also should be done along with friends that make us happy and laugh. I am excited to see what the rest of the year has in store for not only me but for us as a whole group.

~Evelyn J. Toppi

Team Building

I'm not going to lie, I usually hate going to any sort of team or community bonding event.  My parents used to drop me off at church functions and leave me there to mingle with people I didn't really know for hours on end and I absolutely hated it.  Before arriving to our team bonding I was a bit apprehensive about the whole thing.  My past experiences with these sorts of events hadn't been the best.  I didn't want to spend my Sunday doing arts and crafts and the typical run-of-the-mill ice breaker activities.  We did do some ice breakers and we did do activities involving trust, but instead of despising it, I had a blast!  Instead of the typical "What's your name and where are you from", we had to give our name, a place that started with the first letter of our name, and something we sold that started with that letter too.  It was nice to finally be doing something different.  I think what sets this team bonding aside from all of the other functions I've been to like it was that everyone was laughing a genuinely having a good time.  We got to know each other a little bit better and by the end of it I believe that we all left as being friends.

9/12- Our Father's House

On September 12, I went to make and serve dinner at Our Father’s House with a small group of people. We were making baked mac and cheese, chicken fingers, corn on the cob, and for dessert, apples covered in caramel. Because we had gotten an early start on cooking, we managed to get a great dinner out on time. Everyone seemed to really enjoy the food, especially the homemade mac and cheese. Something that I personally thought was impressive was how well everyone worked together. We were able to work efficiently and get the food out on time, and we even had a little bit of time to spare before we served. I’ve gone to Our Father’s House many times and each time I can also say that it’s always an honest reminder of why we do what we do—why we go and do all the events and community service. We are able to work together, give people their dignity, and make a real difference that will last for a long time.

Meredith Mauro

Beginning & End

Last Sunday we had our first team building. The first team building is always the activity that takes forty-four individuals and unites them as a whole. This is my third year in the program and this was the third time I would be participating in the first team bonding. My first year the first team building was the most uncomfortable only because I was shy and timid. This year however I felt everyone came together quite easily. Everyone was encouraged to partner up with people they did not know as well and everyone worked together beautifully. My favorite activity of the day was the obstacle course. With this activity you were to line up with someone whom you usually don't speak to and then one of the partners was blind-folded and the other was to guide them. This activity is extremely important because it builds a great trust. A trust that is vital when traveling down to New Orleans. In New Orleans there are going to be times where you need help and you need to know anyone and everyone in the group will be able to assist you. That trust and caring is something we start building on the very first group bonding with this activity. When we began the activity I did not have a partner so I was teamed up in a group of three. Poor Sheridan had to guide both, Danielle and I. Sheridan, even though she had the difficult job, executed the activity perfectly. She kept Danielle and I both calm and safe. By the end I had put all my trust in Sheridan to guide me blind-folded over a stump, bench and down some rickety stairs. When it came time for the other partner to be blind-folded I did not have a partner so I was able to observe the group. This time around the activity was more intense. The guide had to take the blind-folded partner across a road. I was walking alongside Liz-Marie whom was blind-folded and Kevin who was her guide. Liz-Marie was very afraid of crossing the road but the whole time Kevin kept trying to calm her down and assure her everything was going to be ok. It was an amazing activity. I was watching the group grow closer and closer reaching the family dynamic we achieve while down in New Orleans. It was amazing seeing the group change. Every year the group is made up of all different types of people but somehow these people come together and can work peacefully side by side. I found myself reflecting on my first team bonding the whole day. I cannot believe how much of a transformation I have taken. I look at this years sophomores and cannot believe it is just the beginning of their NOLA career and I reflect on myself and cannot believe mine is coming to an end. I cannot wait to see this years group grow closer and become a family.

Meg Hawkins

Pure Bliss

     According to Dictionary.com bliss is defined as supreme happiness. Although my experiences with NOLA are extremely hard to properly describe due to the fact there are few words in existence that would be suitable to preform the task, a state of pure bliss comes to mind when I reflect upon each memory. This past year has been truly transformational in a way I never imagined possible. I know that my service learning family would agree that nothing in the world can compare to this program. By nature I can be a negative person when I am forced with a situation I find extremely stressful, for instance a few problems that used to make me shut down eliminating every ounce of hope are climate change, homelessness, and starvation. This program made me believe. Now, instead of feeling alone in my deep concern for these issues and other more personal problems, I have a support system that cares just as intensely as me. NOLA gives a voice and a chance to those who could not find the power and confidence they need to change our world for the better. This extraordinary gift has sent me into an eternal state of hope and bliss, one that I hope will never end.

     It is my second year in the service learning program, and I will never be able to express my gratitude that I have for that Friday night in December of my freshman year when Mr. Kane called me to ask if I would be a Giving Tree Coordinator. Now I am fortunate enough to participate at an even deeper level as a NOLA Coordinator. Last year was the most rewarding year of my life and I owe much of that to this program. From the first meeting I was hooked, service learning is like catnip to me, I can't get enough. Beautiful memories of volunteering at Heifer, playing waitress at Spaghetti Supper, scrambling around to find gifts for children during the Christmas season, various random acts, the first time everyone became family at our Thanksgiving meal, will last the rest of my life and this list doesn't cover even a tenth of the experiences I have had. Most days are lost in the abyss, and the few we do remember can sometimes fade. However, if there is one thing I know for sure it is that the majority of the days I remember from the past year, all of the moments of impact, have been because of service learning and the beautiful people I have worked with. I am looking forward to my final two years in this program and even though I will be sad when it ends a wise man once said to me, "Don't be sad because it's over, smile because it happened."

-Liz Palmer

WHEAT 8/22

Yesterday I went to a serve dinner at WHEAT with a few others. We were making eggplant Parmesan and after gathering the eggplants from the garden in the rain, and going to Hannaford's for the rest of the food, we ended up getting a pretty late start on cooking. We had about 45 minutes to make food for 60 people.
Throughout the whole process I never saw one person lose focus or start to give up. We worked extremely efficiently and in the end we got food out to everyone exactly on time. I've worked at WHEAT many times and every time I go I have a completely different experience. All the random acts and events serve as a reminder to me constantly of why we all do what we do together. At WHEAT, we were able to make a very real change not only in the days or the weeks of the people we served, but our efforts may create ripple effects that last throughout their entire lives. We have within us all the power to give people their dignity and give them our time to help them, not because we have to, but because we want to.
Carly Dillis

A Second Generation NOLA'an

Being part of the NOLA service learning group has been a goal of mine for a few years now. This inspiration is all due to my older brother, Jared, who had been part of this program. To me, NOLA had always been an exclusive team of the best of the best, something I could only dream of being part of. I had always looked upon the members of the group as if they were gods, even the ones I did not know. However,  as I became involved in the service learning program last year, I began to realise that this is not what the group is about. Community service is not a spectacular achievement that requires praise, however it is a duty we have as citizens.  We do not do what we do to impress others, or to make ourselves look better, but we do what we do because we like to do it. While I have never been on the NOLA trip itself, I am certain of one thing. That thing is that I will not be the same person after the trip. As Mr. Kane often says, we do not help people, however we work with people to accomplish a common goal. From both my own experience and the experience of my brother, i know that service learning really allows you to discover a lot about people, and who people really are. It allows you to discover who you are as a person, in a way that cannot be taught through a book. It allows you to experience life by living it. It is an experience unlike any other that our school has to offer.  My brother Jared had always been annoying and weird my whole life.  He was well liked by most of his peers, however had never really fit in in a certain group or sport. He found the service learning group when he reached highschool, and he still didnt really fit in, but he was accepted into the group. This group is not full of certain people, in fact, it is very diverse. We are only connected through our common bond of wanting to give back. Jared grew from this group, and from the lessons it taught. As the years passed, this group matured jared (as much as anything could) and got him to a point where he made the decision to join the United States Marine Corps. Had it not been for NOLA, i dont know where jared would be. I dont know where i would be. This group, without me even being a part of it, has affected my life quite significantly.  This group builds our school, our community, and (dramatically) our world into a better place, and we help to make a difference in our future by what we learn today. I think I have talked a little too much.
~Kevin Lundstrom, second generation NOLA'an

From Our Garden to the Kitchen

Yesterday, before leaving for Our Father's House shelter to make our monthly meal, seven of us spent some time in our community garden. We picked things like eggplant, a variety of lettuces, kale, spinach, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc. Helpers from our organization, other students, and even a number of members from our towns had worked tirelessly to help our garden flourish with organic goods. Standing in the vibrant courtyard, it was hard to believe how many seedlings we had spent hours upon hours caring for that now thrived with life. Having the ability to harvest what we needed from the garden was tangible proof of our efforts. With pounds of goods in hand, we left for the shelter. After stopping at the store for a few staples needed for our dish, we made some beautiful garden salad, eggplant parm, chicken parm, and some spaghetti. We made enough to serve forty or so. Attending Our Father's has become one of my favorite ways to help out around the community in my past year or so spent in the service program. The staff there has always been extremely welcoming and appreciative of our assistance. Same goes for the residents we serve. The dining area is always full of compliments and thank yous. Although, nothing about being there really feels like service. It's a blast just to be able to make a huge meal with friends as we get to reap the rewards of watching others enjoy the food. This trip was especially great because of the huge role our very own garden played in helping to constitute the meal. Which, without hesitating to brag, looked and tasted pretty delicious.

Molly Cassidy