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