Item

Service Learning with Suffolk University Madrid Campus

Title (Dublin Core)

Service Learning with Suffolk University Madrid Campus

Description (Dublin Core)

Story by Elizabeth Finn, student of Suffolk University Madrid Campus Spring 2020
“My time at the Wakefield Food Pantry was a unique experience not only for me, but for the entire organization. Due to the spread of COVID-19, the program had to change its procedure. Usually, people are allowed to come to the pantry’s “supermarket” and select the food they need. The new system consisted of only 6 volunteers who were required to keep 6-feet apart and remain covered with masks and gloves. I assisted in pre-packing bags of food that were brought outside to the waiting guests. Guest only received three bags of food, including dairy, frozen meat, produce, dry goods, and bread products. Due to the hardships caused by COVID-19, the demand for food was much greater than usual. In the week I volunteered, we serviced 150 guests compared to the usual 95 guests the pantry typically services. With the new protocol and the increased demand, guests received less food and lower quality than they are used to. Guests from out of town were allocated one bag of dry goods because there was not enough stock to provide food for those outside the local community.
It was disheartening to see the effects of COVID-19 on my own town and how it is hurting those who are already hurting. It was hard to see people not receive enough food to feed their families. While volunteering with the food pantry, I realized just how many people living in my town are faced with challenges such as food insecurity, poverty, and unemployment. Volunteering with my local food pantry has taught me that it is important for communities to help each other out. It was uplifting knowing that there is an organization that ensures everyone in the town has access to food. Many community members volunteer their time, food, and money so that all members of the town are provided for. For me, the event made me realize how important it is to give back to the community that you are a part of. Volunteering at my town’s food pantry changed my civic awareness and responsibility. I am now motivated to continue to give back to my community by volunteering with the food pantry more frequently.” Elizabeth Finn, Suffolk University Madrid Campus Spring 2020

Date (Dublin Core)

April 24, 2020

Creator (Dublin Core)

Elizabeth Finn

Contributor (Dublin Core)

Elizabeth Finn

Type (Dublin Core)

texts story

Controlled Vocabulary (Dublin Core)

English Education--Universities
English Social Issues
English NGOs (non-profits)
English Food & Drink

Curator's Tags (Omeka Classic)

food pantry
volunteering
food insecurity
poverty
unemployement
Suffolk University

Collection (Dublin Core)

Foodways
Unemployment

Date Submitted (Dublin Core)

04/27/2020

Date Modified (Dublin Core)

07/03/2020
08/01/2020
11/10/2020
02/25/2021
11/12/2021

Date Created (Dublin Core)

04/24/2020

Accrual Method (Dublin Core)

2520

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