Tiffany Project Link

1) I volunteered at St. John’s Lutheran Church in my hometown.

2) I was helping sort through the small food pantry that they have there, as well as their clothes closet. Any person who comes to the building needing help will get it. They keep this food pantry and clothes closet stocked, since they are open longer than the food pantries and Salvation Army stores in the area. As we learned in class, places that give out resources with limited hours can be a huge problem because if a person has to rely on transportation, walking, or a work schedule, they could miss out on an opportunity to get resources. As important as food is, it is a huge hurdle for people to be able to afford nice clothes for work or an interview. This church helps people overcome that by offering clean clothing as well as temporary jobs (usually at church members businesses or houses) so there is immediate money coming in for them. By providing these services, St. John’s is able to help combat the huge issues that these people and families face.

3) Working alongside the other people that happened to be there that day was the best part. I heard plenty of stories about the man who runs the program within the church getting a call at two in the morning because someone was knocking on the door of the church or sleeping in the doorway. He is in his seventies, and will still get up at any time of the night and open up the church. He’s even been known to bring people back to his house where he has extra bedrooms and make sure they have a hot meal and a place to stay. He is one of the people who inspired me to become an FCS major in the first place. Hearing stories about him always reminds me why I am going to school and what I hope to one day accomplish.

4) This program has helped numerous people and families get back on their feet. Many of the people that have been helped now regularly come back and donate food or clothing or help with the upkeep of the materials. It is known that this is one of the very few churches in the area that will not force someone to attend any services which I believe helps people feel welcome and open up more.

5) As this has been a rather stressful few semesters, this assignment allowed me to take the time and go do what made me want to go to school in the first place. It was a very refreshing reminder that I eventually will get to have more time to do this kind of thing again and hopefully, by having my degree, I can go even further and do even more.