Project Link-Erin Sienas

This is a picture of my cousin, Alex and I volunteering

This is a picture of me holding one of the packs of food

1. I volunteered my time at Feed My Starving Children at the Aurora, IL location. I volunteered three different times for a total of 5 hours. The first time I volunteered with my friend, Torre and then the last two times I volunteered with little cousin, Alexander who is 9. 

2. I volunteered at a place called Feed My Starving Children, that serves poor/malnourished children in third world countries. This company is a non-profit organization. Basically, there is hour and a half to two hour sessions where you pack food for children in different countries. You are split up into different teams and you try to pack the most food as you possibly can. Towards the end of the session, you stop and clean up and then go to the warehouse to bless the food. Finally, there is an ending session and you find how much you actually packed in that session. This Christian organization is a great example of our class, The Disadvantaged Family and the concepts that are embedded in it. It would go hand-in-hand with a disadvantaged group, meaning children that are malnourished and come from poor parts of the country. This relates to the lecture on disadvantaged children, and hunger in the third world countries. Hunger is a problem in the U.S. However, children in other countries need food to stay nourished too. 

3. There were no networking opportunities because I was just going there to pack the food. When you first get there, you do have to sign in and speak with a worker there. You sign in and can provide your email address for promotional opportunities with Feed My Starving Children. I am already on their e-mail list and receive emails from them. After the session, you also can talk with workers who work there about their program and can buy gifts for yourself or others to benefit the cause. Also, all of the food that is packed by the volunteers there comes from money donated and goes towards purchasing the food. So, you either can donate money or you can buy a box of food for $50. The only people I really interacted with there where the other volunteers in my group. 

4. I think Feed My Starving Children is a great cause not only for the community, and surrounding communities, but for the world. Feed My Starving Children strives to feed as many starving children as they possibly can in the countries that they go to. They literally deliver the food themselves, which is also a really neat aspect about this organization. I think this is a great cause and really affects a lot of lives. When going there, it really makes you think about what we have in the U.S. and makes you grateful for what you have. 

5. I really liked doing this assignment, and volunteering with this organization. This was not my first time volunteering there before, and it will definitely not be my last! I really enjoy going to this site and I like how all of the workers are excited to be there and really make a difference in other people lives. They really push you to go above and beyond in your packing session and put on upbeat music to keep you motivated! I like how the community works together to pack the food and it goes all the way to a third world country to help out children become/stay healthy and nourished. This is really a great cause and does show you some great life lessons. It shows you to appreciate what you do have, and to be grateful for the food you are given. I liked taking my little cousin because I think not only does he help out other children his age, but he has fun while doing it! 

A'Donna Chatman American Red Cross

     I volunteered at the American Red Cross on 3-27-2013. This was blood drive and I was the blood drive coordinator. This blood drive helped many hospital patients all across the region. This relates to disadvantage families because not all people have the advantage of being able to have enough blood. By American Red Cross being able to provide services to people who are willing to donate blood and not receive money for it is a wonderful thing. 

    During the few hours I was there helping the American Red Cross I have gained knowledge on knowing that  many people often come to the blood drives and there are really no incentives these students just do it out the kindness of their hearts which is good. They also told me that they do more than just blood drives. They also help those who are in need of food and clothes and other necessities to live.  

       The service has a big effect on the community. I know they do the blood drive a few times out of each semester and they help those who are in need of blood. This is also good because it give blood donors a chance to know their blood type if they don't know if and it keeps them up to date on knowing their status. 

    I had a wonderful time being their and volunteering my time to the American Red Cross. During the time I was there there were 43 donors and 13 of them were first time donors. This made me feel really good because those people didn't have to do anything. I have never donated blood before but after volunteering my time there, I said that i was going to participate in the next blood drive.

Project LINK- Kelsey Mulhausen

1.    I volunteered my time helping with Lauren’s 5K Run/Walk on the Panther Trail. My friend Maggie Geraci was in charge of the whole run/walk. I assisted her with planning and contacting people to donate. The run/walk was for my friend that recently passed away this summer. She was hit by a drunk driver while crossing a crosswalk.

2.    

      The service activity reflected concepts learned in the FCS course by helping Lauren’s family and raising money for Mother’s Against Drunk Driving (MADD). We raised more than $1,200 for the cause. These families involved with MADD suffer from the loss of a loved one because of a selfish decision of the person that drove drunk. Lauren was an FCS major with a concentration in Dietetics.

3.  

             I helped Maggie call people to donate food or water for the run/walk. Many people wanted to help for the cause. Also, I helped her collect money and order t-shirts for everyone to wear at the 5K. I gained respect for a lot of people that could not make the actual event, but still donated money to the cause. Maggie did such a great job organizing the event, it was stressful to have to deal with every aspect of doing it, but she trucked through and had a very positive outcome.

4.    

      Lauren’s 5K had a very positive effect on everyone who participated. I think it helped Lauren’s family as well because it showed them how many people truly cared for Lauren and wanted to help with the cause. A lot of people showed up and donated to MADD. Over $1,200 was raised and all went to a great cause. I think it definitely raised awareness for drunk driving. Drunk driving is something that occurs in college towns and I think this tragedy brought this issue to attention of how terrible of a decision it is.

5.    

       I think this was a really rewarding activity to get involved with. It was for someone that I care about and raised money for a great cause. I think everyone that attended had a great time and was a time to reflect on all the good times with Lauren. She was such a fun loving person and being there with her family and friends was a great way to celebrate her life. I think after her death it was a real eye opener for most people. She was killed after a night out with her friends, innocently walking across a cross walk. She was struck by a drunk driver and was killed. In a college town, I think it is unfortunately common for someone to think they are okay to drive home from a party after drinking. But in reality, it is never a good decision and there are always other options. I was happy to be involved with such a great cause and glad it turned out to be such a success. 

Project Link-Felicia

1. For this assignment I volunteered my time at a Nursing Home in University Park, IL.

2. The service activity reflected concepts learned in the current FCS course by the way elderly are treated in today's society. We learned in class how over 1/2 of the elderly have a documented disability and 40% have activity limitations. This was true because when I went to the nursing home they had a list of all the residents that have disabilities such as schizophrenia  have to be in a wheelchair, and those who have a home nurse come and clean their home because they are physically incapable to do certain things on their own. Some elderly people that were in the nursing home had dealt with financial abuse, sexual, emotional, and abandonment that has caused them to become depressed and not want to do anything. Most of them didn't have families to come visit them and just wanted someone to talk to about anything.

3. I networked with other professionals that were there by having a little history or background of the different elderly patients that I was assigned to help with. They were able to give me advice on what to do and what not to do when it came to these individuals as well as how to make them smile. Some of the elderly     just wanted someone to be in their presence and to just listen to what they had to say rather than treat them in an unfair way which some of them have experienced. This is why they are careful who they allow volunteer  in their facility because there have been some issues in the past that has caused problems between the elderly and those who have volunteered. In addition, gained respect and learned that you have to have patience to deal with the elderly because they don't move very fast, may not hear very well, and may take a lot of time to do certain things.

4. The potential effect that the service organization has on the community is that they are very close with one another and that the police department is right next to the nursing home so they are responsive immediately. When there are holidays the community such as the church that is right next to the nursing home comes and brings food that they cooked for the residents. They come and serve and play games with some of the residents that may not have family to come and visit them. The community is very close and is there for the elderly when needed.

5. Overall, I enjoyed the assignment because I've always loved the elderly because I'm close with my grandparents and have seen various ways they are treated in society. My grandmother lived in this nursing home in the past and she experienced both positive and negative outcomes. It's different to see how the nursing home was then and now because there has been a drastic change. All these people want is for someone to talk to, help them do things around their home, or just to listen and enjoy their company. Some of them don't have family come and visit them, which has caused them to be very depressed. I see some of the elderly cry while I was their because of the things they've been through, how they have no family, or just wish they would die. This experience just made me be grateful for my family and realize how lucky we are to be able to take my grandmother in our home.

Project LINK - Heather

1. For this project I volunteered at a home day-care in Casey, IL.
   
   
2. Children at this day-care come from all different types of homes. For a few of the families she has a discount for the fact they can’t always afford food, clothing, etc. She helps teach these children pre-school and Kindergarten concepts. She even gets the kids gifts on holidays and she knows that not all the kids get a lot during Christmas, etc. She will offer food for the families to take home when they come to pick their child up so that they get supper or a snack when they go home. Not all the families are able to provide for their children and she is trying her hardest to give back to them so that they don’t go without a meal, food, etc.
   
   
3. I did not realize that in my small community so many children needed help. Of course, we always talk about how many children live in poverty but until you see the children and their families you don’t always realize the impact. I talked to two other adults who have a day-care in Casey and they help the children that they take care of also. They also donate different items to the community churches and Casey will have “city-wide garage sales” and the churches will have everything for free. I was able to talk to a few parents and they were grateful for what the day-care provider does for them and makes it a little easier on them and less stressful then what it normally would be. I didn’t know how much day-care providers really do help families and I could not imagine being a day-care provider myself.
   
   
4. She is helping teach the children before school and even while they are in school. Even after school when the children get off the bus she will help them with homework (depending on age) and she will have a snack with a lesson. Also, I thought that it was great that they donated different items to the churches so that the families could get them for free. She is trying to make everyday living a little easier for these children and their families. For a small town we have a quite a few day cares and I know that it is expensive but some make it a little easier so that they can give the children in the community equal opportunity.
5. I think volunteering helped me understand more about what they provide for these children and how many children/families need help just in our community. I loved helping the children learn new things such as numbers, words, or even colors. I could not imagine doing this as a full time job, I like working with children but in small amounts and only a few at a time let alone multiple children for 8-10 hours a day. I did not realize how much daily planning went into day care and what all she has to do for meals/snacks. It was a great experience seeing the children’s faces when they learned something new or when it came to lunch and one said “I love the food you make us, I don’t get this at home”. Volunteering helped the children get more one on one time with an adult and the provider was able to do a few other things while I watched the children.

Project LINK-Schnarr

I volunteered my time at a place called “Freedom House” in Princeton, Illinois. This establishment aims to help battered women and children by offering them safety, networking, and the skills needed to survive on their own. While their safe houses are confidential, they do have a main office, which includes a church, counseling offices, legal advocates, and play areas for the children. A local alternative to this service is HOPE of East Central Illinois. 

The facility offers numerous kinds of services to the clientele. The service activity stressed the importance of not judging a book by its cover, which is extremely important in today’s society. We are too quick to judge someone based on outward appearance without knowing anything about the individual. The clients have experienced trauma and tragedy all the while still fighting to survive; assume diversity. The average person does not know their story or where they came from; we are unable to fully understand what it is like to live in poverty or be terrified of our dad. The facility is able to provide valuable resources for women and children in danger by abuse or sexual assault. The activity provided me with knowledge to share, when needed, and to have a better ear to listen when someone in trouble. Also, with the legal advocates, it offered information on how to prevent the danger from presenting itself again, information on policies that currently exist, and how the legal world will work in the client’s defense. These individuals are disadvantaged, requiring someone to stand up for their basic rights that have been stripped of them.

The most important information I walked away with was from the survivors. Not only do they have the courage to continue on as if nothing happened, they are great advocates, listeners, and friends. They are the strongest professionals, because they are able to understand the trauma being felt, how to overcome it, and how to move past the difficult past. I also gained the basic knowledge that abuse can happen to anyone, from any walks of life, and the outsider will not have a clue of the battle being internally fought.

The activity can help make the community more aware of the problems facing both women and children. It can encourage people to volunteer their time to help the disadvantaged that the community may not have been previous aware of. It will also information the community of the services available, especially since the organization is not widely known across the county. Everything is confidential, which can ease client needs and worries. The legal help that can be provided is also beneficial to know about, because then the individual knows she is not on her own, but a larger group fighting to help her.

The assignment was very beneficial. It reminded me why volunteering is important. It also reminded me of the struggles people face that the average person does not know about, think about, or ever experience. (Not that the third statement is a problem.) The activity reminded me of how one person can make a difference and how important that concept really is. Volunteering is very humbling and an activity is so many of us simply neglect in today’s fast paced society. 

Kelly Inda- Project LINK

For the Project LINK assignment, I volunteered at Shiloh Christian Children's Ranch in Missouri.  This is an annual trip that my church takes over President's Day weekend in February.  Over the course of the weekend, we perform manual labor around the ranch for them.  This year, we split and hauled wood for their central heating system.  We had so many hands volunteering that we split enough wood for them for two years!  The looks on their faces when we were done is something I will never forget.  On the Shiloh ranch, there are 5 house parents.  These parents take in children and teenagers whose home life is not the greatest.  Their needs range from parental abuse, trouble in school, learning how to function socially and life skills that these children can apply when they are returned to their biological parents.  This is a christian organization, so the children who are there go to church with the house parents and have Bible time in their homes.

This service related to this FCS course because these children are at a disadvantaged.  Not growing up with your biological parents, not matter how long, can form trust issues in these children, cause anxiety when they have to leave and always wonder why did these things have to happen to them.  This gives volunteers a glimpse also at how foster parenting works and the selection process of choosing children to live with them.  Since this is a private organization, they do not accept any state money and they can choose who comes to the ranch and there is an intense application process.  Most of these children are poor and come from backgrounds where they were never read to, neglected and acted out in their anger and anxiety.

While I was there, I had the opportunity to speak to many of the home parents.  I was able to hear their story of how they ended up at the ranch and what their experience has been like.  For the past three years, I have stayed at the same house parent's home and have been able to build a relationship with them.  They are the most selfless people I know to give up their life for the sake of children in need.  I know that I can trust them while I am there and they love the work that we have done.  Through staying at house parent's homes, I have gained an understanding of the difficulties it takes to work with those in need.  It is a holistic approach to reach these children: financially, emotionally, spiritually, mentally and physically.  They have some of the best attitudes and love every child as their own that walk through their door.

My church brought a group of over 50 and with that many hands, we can spread ourselves over the ranch and help in anyway that we can.  Besides the splitting and hauling of wood, we help in their kitchens, cleaning the homes, yardwork and playing with their children who need solid adult role models in their lives.  This gives the house parents a break and they are able to relax while we are there because of the work that we take over for them.  This is a 24/7/365 job for them, so any help that they receive has a great impact on their mission and in the lives in the children to see college students give up a 3-day weekend to serve and volunteer. This organization gives back to the community any extra that they can.  They have a great relationship with the school system and help with any school event that they can.

This assignment is beneficial in getting students, including myself, involved with the community.  This takes you out of your comfort zone and puts you in the place of someone else.  I was able to understand what these kids go through and how their background affects who they are today.  It was good to talk to the parents who care for these kids and understand why they do what they do.  I am already excited to go back to the ranch next year and meet new faces and catch up with old friends!