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