3.16.2011

The holler: a spring break service trip

"What an adventure."

I think that's the best way to concisely describe the week that seven students and I spent in Charleston, West Virginia at the holler and downtown locations of the Union Mission of Charleston.

The week began with a snowy trek over the hill and through the woods to the coal mining town and capital of the Mountain State. Despite precarious conditions on the winding highway, we all took in the natural beauty and delighted in the snow that is so rare at Campbell. 

The six hour drive brought us "down the holler," as the locals say, a narrow valley between two mountains where the majority of the Mission's facilities sit on hills and in hills. As soon as our feet hit the pavement outside the womenfolk's dorm at Brookside, the recovery center for homeless women and children, we became an unstoppable force of oatmeal packet sorters, envelope stuffing experts, and donation organizing extraordinaires... and those are only a few of the tasks we accomplished! 

                                          
Adrien, the Mission's wonderful volunteer coordinator, wanted us all to experience as much of the Mission as possible. We also observed cases in Family Services, served supper at the men's shelter downtown every night, and matched up hundreds of socks that Wal-Mart donated. At the end of the week we had participated in the input (sorting donations) and the output (interacting with homeless men and women) of a mission that that feeds about 40,000 people a month. Talk about being part of something bigger than yourself!

I observed a lot and learned a lot last week. The images strongest in my mind still are of the clients who came into Family Services needing a food and/or clothing voucher. The clients didn't mind a stranger (me) sitting two seats away while they explained that they can't afford to buy new sneakers for their 10-year-old or how diapers are just too expensive these days. The Mission doesn't ask for an explanation for needing help, though a series of questions about income paints a dreary picture for me as I sit, listening intently and soaking in this rare opportunity to see, hear, and smell poverty that's literally inches from me.

I can speak only on my own experiences. Our students journaled throughout the week on their experiences and thoughts (check back in the coming days for additional reactions):

Jessica Beaver
"If I had to summarize my mission trip to West Virginia in one word it would have to be love. I experienced an unimaginable amount of love. I was floored and amazed by the different types and magnitude of love in and around the Union Mission.
I spent a lot of the week sorting clothes, shoes and food that went into the Mission’s thrift store. I cannot even begin to explain the amount of things there were to sort. Literally, things were piled to the ceiling and once you finished on pile, there were at least 3 more behind it. At one point I was standing keen deep in a pile of shoes that needed to be sorted and feeling pretty overwhelmed with the task in front of me. Then I realized, all of these shoes (and clothes and food items) were donated by the community. The people of the community are constantly giving to the Mission. In my eyes, the community is showing a tremendous amount of love for the Mission by supplying a never ending flow of donations. The people of the community are loving people in need, people they have probably never meet, simply by donating clothes, shoes, food, etc."

Cara Glover
"I gained a new perspective on many things during the week in West Virginia. I got to really live out what the Bible says about serving the poor and needy. During one of our group debriefing sessions after a day of work one of our leaders (LaCount) said something that really struck me. He explained that as he sat eating dinner with the people at the shelter who were hungry and had nothing he realized that if Jesus was still walking on earth he would probably be right there. He would not be in a church but rather sitting with and serving these people. Suddenly after hearing this I felt honored to be serving these strangers because I knew that is what my Lord did. I encourage everyone to try out a mission trip experience. You will not regret it!"

Pictures speak a thousand words, so I suggest that you check out the Facebook photo album from the trip.

3.02.2011

Spring awakening


Spring time at Campbell means two things: engagements and outdoor activities. While we can't say much about the first one, a few new programs and events are quickly filling the spring semester calendar.

In a time when federal support of service may soon be a thing of the past, Campbell's dedication to service is an example of how the private and faith-based sectors can step up and continue traditions of outreach and compassion.

Check out what's on the menu for spring time service at Campbell, in chronological order:

Abrazo isn't an event but a sustainable program designed to connect Campbell students with local farm worker camps through the NC Farmworkers Project. Student groups (clubs, dorms, etc.) volunteer to support a camp of farm workers to meet its needs.
Click here to find Abrazo on Facebook.
Caring Camels is another long-term program with a mission to place Campbell volunteers into the community. In its second semester the program currently has five tutors and one mentor serving dozens of hours each month at local schools. 
Alternative spring break outreach to Red Springs, NC and Charleston, WV will address rural poverty. Keep up with Service at Campbell for posts and photos!
Impulse coffeehouse and the Multicultural Council are co-sponsoring an open-mic night for performances representing students' nationalities and also to showcase international poverty. March 29 at 8 p.m. in Turner.

Poverty Awareness Week will bring representations of poverty to campus to remind us how prevalent it is and what we can do about it.
Click here to read the post about #CampbellPAW2011.


Operation Inasmuch 2011 in its fourth year at Campbell and ready to be the best one yet! The day-long blitz of service on April 16 will touch lives all over Harnett County.
Click here to find OIAM 2011 on Facebook. Sign up here.
As you can see there's no shortage of ways to get connected, and the only place to go is up! Next semester will feature bigger, better ideas to help our students service the Campbell community.

Last but not least, follow us on Twitter as CUservice!