After our four day hunger tour I definitely feel humbled by knowing how nice I have it. On the first day we learned that by sitting down and having a meal with the people at the Luke House that we got to know them better than if we would have served the meal, because we made a connection to the people the Luke House serves. On day two we learned how much food is out there that would just get thrown away if it was not for Campus Kitchens at Northwestern University. They distributed it to those who need it. Later we toured Connections, a homeless shelter. What stood out to me there was how they will let people who are not staying there have a locker to put all of their things in. I know it is not much, but that must make them feel better knowing that the few things they have are safe. Before we went for our fun day in Chicago we prayed that we could keep our eyes open to what is going on around us. I did not see anyone who stood out to me that looked hungry or homeless, but I am sure there may have been, which puts it more in perspective that they don’t look any different than we do. Overall the trip was an amazing learning opportunity for us all, and changed the way I think about the hungry and the homeless.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Photos from Northeast Iowa Food Bank
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Day 4: Waterloo, IA
We've just completed the final mission of our roadtrip with a stop in Waterloo, IA at the Northeast Iowa Food Bank. This food bank differs from the type of local food bank we're used to seeing at places like Channel One because it serves as an expansive warehouse for food banks and nonprofit organizations throughout 16 Iowa counties. Last year they distributed over 5 million pounds of product through their various programs. One particular population that they serve is senior citizens living on fixed social security incomes. While the cost of living has continued to rise, many are struggling to be able to afford the necessities they once could.
After a tour of the facility we got to work! Three pallets of salad dressing had been delivered. Box by box, bottle by bottle, we sorted the dressing, crossed out the bar codes, and labeled the boxes. As organizations place their orders with the warehouse they will be able to readily pull what is needed. There was something that felt good about doing some physical labor to end our trip. We began on Wednesday with growing food and ended today with preparing for distribution.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Downtown Chicago
Getting a good look out over Millennium Park.
Emily & Allison sitting under the Bean.
We took the L from Evanston to Navy Pier, walked to Millennium Park, took the L to Chinatown, and then back to Evanston.
Lots and lots and lots of walking... Giving our feet a bath for a midday rest was appreciated!
So...the youth all walked around Navy Pier. Only two from the group went on any rides. :) Here we are high atop the ferris wheel with the city behind us.Day 3: Chicago (by Elizabeth L.)
Today we took a break from service work to check out some of the different sights in Chicago. After sleeping in a bit, we made a delicious breakfast of pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream. Pastor Betty, the pastor from the church we are staying at, joined us for breakfast and shared a little bit with us about the church and the ministry they do. Even though St. Paul’s is a smaller church (around 150 active members) and does not have a ton of money, the people are very focused on using the money they do have to help others. They run a soup kitchen every Sunday as well as an emergency homeless shelter when the outside temperature drops below zero. I think it shows a lot about the church’s character that their primary focus is on the ministry that they can do out in the world, rather than just on what they can do to better themselves.
After breakfast, we rode the L train downtown and walked a few blocks over to Navy Pier. We took about an hour to check out some of the shops around Navy Pier and grab some lunch. Then, we walked over to Millennium Park and checked out the giant silver bean (a great photo opportunity, since it is so reflective that you can take your picture in it). We also enjoyed taking a break from the heat by dipping our feet in a fountain that ran through the park. Although we never made it to the Field Museum (our original plan for the afternoon), we nevertheless had a great time just wandering around Chicago and taking lots of pictures. For dinner, we took the train over to Chinatown and indulged in some of the best Chinese food that I, for one, have ever had. Right now, we are back at the church just relaxing before bed—Pastor Shelley is teaching the others how to play Bible Scattergories in the other room.
One thing that we found surprising about today was that we did not really encounter any homeless people. After all that we have seen and learned over the past few days, we were inspired to change how we approach the homeless that we encounter on the street. Rather than look away, we wanted to do something to show that we view them as human beings just like us and that we care. Some of us brought granola bars along to give to anyone we encountered. Ironically, however, we did not come across anyone asking for change or anything like that. We talked about why this might have been and our reactions to it after returning to the church tonight. Amy referred to the saying, “A watched pot never boils”—sometimes looking for something is not the best way to find it. Lisa mentioned that our plans for us often don’t match God’s plans for us. Maybe today was just not the day that God wants to use us. What’s important is that we take back everything that we have seen, felt, and learned so far on this trip—and tomorrow, when we make our last stop in Waterloo, Iowa—and use it to make a difference back home in Rochester, no matter how small that difference is, or what form it takes.
What's the population of your world?
Day 2: Evanston
Yesterday we spent most of the day partnering with the Campus Kitchens project at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. Campus Kitchens can be found across the country at 28 different colleges and universities. “What we do is kind of a no-brainer. We know there are people in each community who need nourishing meals. And, we know that every college campus has unserved food in its dining halls and brilliant students in its classrooms. So we put them all together.” Last year Campus Kitchens rescued 30,000 pounds of extra food from Northwestern’s dining halls to serve to the community.
Since the university is on its summer schedule we worked on a couple of smaller projects. After learning about what happens in the kitchen, our group packaged 70 snack bags to be delivered to Stand Up for Kids, a homeless shelter for teens. When the teens leave the shelter in the morning they will be given these snack bags to nourish them throughout the day.
You may have noticed that these snack bags are only about half-filled with healthy snacks. One of our focuses on this trip has been just how difficult it is for poor people to have access to healthy food. Across the country you’ll find what are referred to as “food desserts,” pockets in communities and neighborhoods that are without markets or access to fresh foods. Likewise, when you look at the shelves of food at food pantries you’ll see an abundance of packaged, unhealthy food. Every organization that we have partnered with thus far has touched on this concern in one way or another. Many poor people are overweight, not because of lack of access to food, but because of the prevalence, cost, and availability of unhealthy food.
Later in the afternoon we returned to Campus Kitchens to deliver some of the meals that had been packed by the summer interns. This gave us the opportunity to get out into the community and meet some of the people who receive these meals. Altogether 50 meals were delivered out of the kitchen yesterday…and we discovered at least 50 “speed humps” on the roads of Evanston.
Our final delivery was to an organization called Homeless Connections. After dropping off some sack lunches we were able to get a tour of the shelter. Connections’ mission is “working to end homelessness by preventing people from losing their homes, re-housing those who already have, and helping each person to reach the greatest possible level of self-sufficiency.” Standing in the shelter amongst the tattered and outdated donated clothing, stepping into the dorm room lined with lockers and bunk beds, and moving aside as the young, hungry man showed up to ask for some food made us all acutely aware of the privileged lives we live.
As we ended our evening we prayed together, “Dear God, I feel…” Echoed around the room were many feelings…tired, overwhelmed, confused, ashamed, humbled, inspired, blessed, privileged.