And the winner is... Team Blow Out!

Rose Haven is a resource center for abused and homeless women in Portland.  The facility serves over 2,000 women and their children every year.  Through my studies leading up to my degree, I have become passionate about women issues, so Rose Haven was a perfect fit for me as a community partner for my Capstone class.  Each week, averages of 20 to 30 women with children are helped by Rose Haven providing them with diapers for age’s infant through toddler.  Rose Haven recently lost their diaper source, and asked me to help find one for them.  Their current source has gone out of business.  When taking on this task I thought, well that should be easy, and I will be on to another project in no time.  Little did I know, finding a diaper supplier who is willing to donate to this worthy cause would be a challenge my entire Capstone class.

I started by reaching out to all the standard manufacturers such as Pampers, Huggies, and etc...  I also reached out to all the retail stores I could think of, such as Costco, Walmart, and more.    If I heard anything back from these types of companies at all, it was thanks, but no thanks.  I started to get frustrated as the list of options started to dwindle. I began to feel as if there was no one left to ask.  I started to lose hope as my frustration built.  I figured if I cannot get someone to give diapers continuously, then I had to come up with another idea.  I decided to do a diaper drive.  I had no idea how to go about conducting this type of drive.  I thought, who I can ask to help sponsor a diaper drive?  I did some research on the internet, and thought about reaching out to Walmart, Freddy’s, or maybe even local churches, to see if someone would support me in my idea.   On a whim, I asked the receptionist from my office what she thought about doing a diaper drive, rather than adopting a family, as we usually do during the holidays.  She was excited about doing something different, and loved the idea.  Having that little bit of encouragement gave me the confidence to ask the big boss if he would support the idea.  He not only wanted to support it but he was excited to do something new as well. Here is the flier posted at my work.

 

I went to the office meeting the next week prepared to make the most of the diaper drive.  I work in an office of 20 people.  We are sales people so we are very competitive.  I decided to divide the office into three teams, and challenged them to compete to see which team could bring in the most diapers.  I named the teams, Droopy Drawers (The management and receptionist), Diaper Genies (My team which consists of the inside sales group), and team Blow Out (the field sales team).  Everyone embraced this idea, and started reaching out to their families, friends, customers, and representatives in the industry.  It was an extreme success.  I was so pleased I had decided to do the drive within my office, and it made me even happier to know I work with a company full of people who want to help with such a wonderful cause for Portland.  I am proud of Rose Haven and the work they do and also proud of my co-workers for getting behind me in this project.   This is not a solution for Rose Haven by any means.  I am happy with the success, of the drive but, I know this is just a stop gap to a bigger long term problem that we need to fix.

Below are the final numbers of the diaper drive.

Team Blow Out wins with 6,664

Team Droopy Drawers in second place with 5,594

Sorry Team Diaper Genies you came in last at 2,624

All together we collected 14,882 diapers and wipes for Rose Haven.

Needless to say, I am sad my team did not win the contest.  We did the count by the individual amount of diapers or wipes provided.  I am grateful that everyone was competitive, and got behind this worthy cause, so I lose graciously for the good of diapers.  If you knew how competitive I am you would understand that losing isn’t easy for me. This project has taught me to have faith in people, to never give up, and that even if you cannot fix the problem you might still be able to do something about it.  Although, I am disappointed with not finding the long term source for diapers, I do feel accomplished that we are able to supply diapers for at least a few months before we will need to do something again.  

~Heather Glass 

Acceptance

When I walked into The Salvation Army food pantry, inquiring about a volunteer position, I was immediately led into the warm and whimsical office of the manager, Tina. It almost felt like a job interview, and I started to panic as a thought rang out in my head: “What if I’m not accepted for a position?”

Acceptance is one theme that I have focused on throughout this online senior capstone project, in the course titled Mobilizing Hope at Portland State University.  This course asks students to reflect on personal faith traditions, beliefs, and wonderings, and to use these as a foundation for social justice activism. Without a solid faith tradition, I feared that I wouldn’t have enough of a foundation for the course requirement. As I have grown to find out, acceptance is quite a strong foundation to have. While “belief” and “acceptance” can be used interchangeably to define one another, there are cases where believing and accepting come to have different connotations.
Humans face possibilities of acceptance and rejection, whether it be trivial or life changing, but a challenge lies within a deeper acceptance of humanity. People have the tendency to become wrapped up in immediate personal needs, schedules, loved ones, jobs, careers, education, hobbies, dreams, desires, material possessions, finances, the past, present, future, and overall living to one’s full potential. It is common that one could forget; while this seems like a day in the life of an average member of society, this is not a comparative lifestyle for everyone living on the planet. There is war, suffering, starvation, and oppression worldwide. It becomes a matter of subjective value and necessity, but we are all human. That never changes. With the acceptance of another person’s condition and place in the world comes the willingness to reach out when necessary. This course has taught me to start small; one person cannot save the world, but collectively, each person can play a small part in making a difference. Instead of despairing about the rest of the world, I was given the opportunity to proactively take part in helping other human beings in the town that I reside in. This leads to another important theme: understanding.
Empathy is one of the most effective ways to reach an understanding of another human being. It aids in problem-solving and making meaningful connections. Through my experience, I was allowed to reach an understanding of people in need. Though empathy was involved, familiarity also played a big part. Each day, various people came into The Salvation Army in need of assistance in different ways. Whether it was for food, clothing, or help paying rent, to be part of a resource that provides relief and peace of mind to others, and to witness it in action, brings about a sense of hope in ourselves. I believe this was the goal of the course.
My mind welcomed my own relief as Tina gave me a tour of the office, the pantry, and the church, and welcomed me into the food bank family with a hug. I started out with a few hours a week, and found myself eager to shed the feeling of being a stranger among my new, mutually accepted family. At The Salvation Army, we do as much as we can to help by offering the resources that are available in Eugene. I learned about services in town that I can pass on to people I see when I’m walking downtown. Instead of continuing on with a meek apology when a donation is requested, I can offer a bit of my time to provide information of where they can go to ease their hunger, or to seek shelter from freezing temperatures. I can direct others who might need a few days of food before their next paycheck, or who have just received an eviction notice. I will be continuing my volunteer position through the holidays, as The Salvation Army will be providing Christmas boxes for families and individuals alike. Over 200 applications for Christmas boxes have been submitted. I could never have imagined helping this many people on my own. It has shown me that working together through acceptance and understanding provides the best solutions. To play a small part in something bigger and beyond myself has been a special experience for me.
~Megan McNeary

Compasses

Across all faiths and within all spirits lies a compass, a moral one of sorts.

When I look at the big picture, my compass can feel overwhelmed, off kilter even

But when the child of an incarcerated parent or the homeless on our streets come into my line of sight

My compass becomes strong and pointed in exactly the right direction.

Resistance turns to flow and impossibility becomes probability.

Faith turns into action and my soul feels alive.

This past term, I continued my internship into my Capstone. My internship was with Girl Scouts Beyond Bars and I was able to assist in connecting incarcerated mothers with their daughters, through Girl Scouts: meetings were held within prison walls and yet I watched freedom occur. I met an amazing mentor named Cassi whose heart is unmatched to any other I have ever known and I never imagined it could get any better.

Fall term came around and it was time to select a Capstone. I begged to be in one that worked with adjudicated youth and writing workshops: I wasn’t able to get in, so I prayed.

God led me to Mobilizing Hope (ironically taught by the same professor as the one who led the previous one I wanted). Throughout the term, I evaluated and re-evaluated my own faith. I was able to learn of different perspectives from my classmates and my professor (whose name is Deb).

What I learned is that even those who have been placed on a pedestal as heroes started as ordinary people. And what has been celebrated as outcome has not nearly been stated enough as journey.

Through this course, my faith has been restored and my trek towards social justice has been renewed. I have been re-ignited and I am so grateful for this past term.

Mobilizing Hope is a journey that I will never forget.

~Kristen Griffey

Hope's Table

Three months ago, if you asked me what it meant to be a Christian, I would have said: "To be a Christian means that I am called to serve God, love others as Christ did, to follow what the Bible says, and to build relationships with people." While all of that is true, I was missing something very important. After taking my senior capstone, Mobilizing Hope, I have a much clearer understanding of what it means to be a Christian.

To be a follower of Christ means that I love like Christ did, but I stand by the oppressed and the people in the margins, not just walk past them and quickly pray for them. It means taking a stand against all kinds of injustice. To be a follower of Christ means that I build relationships, I support, I help, and I encourage those around me - my neighbors. But who is my neighbor? The person that lives next door or down the street? Yes. And the homeless man on the corner, and the hungry runaway teen, the man in a jail cell for whatever crime he committed, children in Africa. Everyone is a neighbor. The Bible was very broad when it describes "neighbor", therefore as a Christian, I need to very broad in my love for others.

Three months ago, when I would encounter homeless people on the streets, I was fearful of them. I would put my head down and pray for them, but I would quickly move past them. I would never stop and engage. What I have learned and experienced in the course of this term is that homeless people are just that - people. They are living, breathing, human beings who - more often than not - have landed in this situation not because they wanted to, but because of life circumstances.

For the last 3 months I have been serving at a place called Hope’s Table in Tualatin. Hope’s Table is a ministry that serves a warm meal every Monday night for those in the community who are hungry. Volunteers prepare food, set up the space, then serve the meal and engage with the individuals who come. It's a safe place for people to come and eat a warm dinner. Every week Hope’s table offers something besides a free meal to their guests. Some weeks it's a free haircut, other times a librarian reads to the children. They offered free flu shots to those without insurance. There is a van that picks up homeless people in Tualatin and brings them to enjoy a meal.

The first night that I volunteered, I was nervous and uncertain about what to expect. But after walking through the door, I was at peace. I felt like I was exactly where I needed to be. The volunteers were wonderful and super friendly, and the guests were amazing. I got to know the people who I would volunteer with either every week or once a month, and looked forward to seeing them every time.

I also got to know the individuals who came for a meal every week. There were several who I connected with, and most everyone was a joy to talk to. There were several ladies who I had a strong connection with; I could relate to the emotional struggles they were experiencing. I looked forward to seeing the regulars who came through the doors, and I started to worry about the ones who didn’t show up for a few weeks. I found myself being blessed over and over and over again, just by walking through the doors to serve. The people were so grateful, so thankful, and so appreciative that Hope’s Table was there. This week there was a lady who was attending for the first time - she came up and gave me a big hug and thanked me over and over. I have been completely blessed every week. I am humbled by and grateful for this experience.

During my time at Hope’s Table I asked several guests a simple question, “What does Hope’s Table mean to you?”  I got a variety of responses: (Disclaimer: due to respecting the privacy of the guests and legal issues, I cannot mention the names, or show the faces of any guests.)

• ©       “Friendly people.  A warm meal.  Making memories.  It reminds me of when I was little and would go somewhere with my grandpa and we would share in a meal like this.”
• ©       “A place to get food.”
• ©       “Encouragement.  Fellowship.  A meal with friends.”
• ©       “Beautiful place.  Friendly people.  A place to come when I am all done working and very tired and cannot cook.  Very grateful for this place.”
• ©       “Food.”
• ©       “Thankfulness.”
• ©       “Fellowship.  Nice people.  Encouragement. A place to get help.  Really, really good food.  Hope….”

I also asked the volunteers the question, “Why do you serve at Hope’s Table.”  These are the responses that I got:

©       “I watched my son be mistreated because he was different than his peers and I do not want others to feel like my son did.” ~Cammy

• ©       “It is as simple as Jesus said to feed the hungry.  So I am.” ~Randy
• ©       “I started out as one of the guests, one of the homeless people, and now I am not homeless anymore.  I want to give back.  I love seeing everyone smiling, it is encouraging.” ~Randy
• ©       “We are called to serve.” ~Gail
• ©       “I have always had a passion for the homeless since I was younger.  When I heard they were going to do Hope’s table I wanted in and have been here since day one.  I have a heart for the marginalized and making the people in the margins feel like they are humans, because that is what they are.  I just have a huge heart for these people.  They have taught me more lessons than I can count.  I keep serving so that I can share my blessings from this ministry with others.  I am truly blessed to be a part of this ministry.” ~Darrell
• ©       “Our community group was looking for a place to serve, and we chose Hope’s Table.  I love to cook and this is a way I can give back to other people.  It helps me to count my blessings, and I feel blessed serving these people.  And we are called to serve others.” ~Debbie
• ©       “I like to help people and serve people.  We are called to serve as Christians.” ~Allen

I I have learned so much about myself, about what it means to love Christ, and what it looks like to be a true follower of Him. This has been one of the most rewarding experiences I've ever had. I'm looking forward to continuing to serve at Hope’s Table, and finding other ways I can serve out my faith as a follower of Christ.    

All the food is prepared by volunteers, either in this kitchen or in the volunteers’ homes.

Me filling up a hot water container for tea and hot chocolate.

We transport everything from the kitchen, down stairs to Hope’s Table.

Rolling silverware has become my expertise.  I find it a rather calming task.

Hope’s Table is ready for our guests.

A group of volunteers serving the food.

~Kylie Provencher

Overcome the barriers.

When I started my community based learning project, I was extremely nervous. I knew that I would be teaching an ESL class every week and that I could create my own lesson plans. It was nice having that much freedom but I didn’t know the first thing about teaching a class or creating a lesson plan. However I made sure to use my previous experience as a volunteer with children in Africa as a resource for teaching and creating said plans.

The students I met at IRCO taught me so many wonderful things. During my classes with them they would always ask me about my life and then also share things about themselves. I learned about their families they left back home, their past careers and their hopes and dreams. It was so refreshing and powerful to meet with them every week and see their progress. They were so excited about learning English and being taught new concepts and subjects every week.  Some students would travel for two hours to get to the IRCO location and even would come early and stay late to attend morning and afternoon classes. It showed me that they really wanted to make a difference and wanted to make all the goals they had set for themselves come true. I consider myself to be very fortunate for being able to volunteer with such a wonderful and positive organization such as IRCO. I learned many lessons from my students that I wouldn’t have otherwise been able to learn. I think that when people come together and are able to help others make their dreams come true, well that is a really beautiful thing. I plan on spending more time at IRCO in the future and I can’t wait to see what that holds.

~ Frankie Smith

The Littlest Servant

I never thought an 8-year old would have such a profound effect on my life. I never dreamed of being nearly graduated from college then suddenly wanting to change career paths. I didn’t foresee God stepping in and using children to teach me. Of course, God tends to work in my life in ways I would never expect and at times I can never predict. I’m getting used to just going along for the ride.

I went into my senior year of college dreading my senior capstone. I thought it was an incredibly stupid class, requiring us to pay more money to do free work in a field that has nothing to do with our future lives. I don’t think I’ve ever been more wrong in my life.

Every essay I read for this class brought things to my attention I had never given much thought to. Perhaps I just didn’t want to think about them. That way I could stay safe and comfortable in my life and with my faith in a Jesus I didn’t fully understand. With each passing week, I was confronted more and more with a choice: Jesus, or comfort. This choice burned within me because I knew which one I should choose, but that path meant working toward something I may never achieve, every single day for the rest of my life. It meant trying to make change and live the radical way Jesus did, and not treat my life with the taken-for-granted complacency I had become so accustomed to. It terrified me, because I didn’t know how to do it. To be honest, I still don’t.

The 8-year old that changed my life was present though all of this. She was there, helping God change me, once a week for three hours. And that was it. That was all it took. It wasn’t only this little girl herself who changed me, but what she represented. She had a childlike innocence that I loved with a real intelligent mind and a bit of an idea of who she was. She negotiated and didn’t take no for an answer, which as her teacher made my job difficult, but secretly I was proud of her for that. It will serve her well when she gets out into the world. Perhaps the reason she affected me so much was because she embodied what I wanted my children to be like, and what I wanted to help nurture in all of God’s children. Isn’t it funny how we get so frustrated at those kids who are different, stubborn, independent, smart-asses and yet deep-down that’s how we want them to turn out as adults?

The first time I met her, she reminded me to much of myself when I was her age that I had to laugh. It was because of this girl that the things I was learning stuck. She made the choice more real for me, showing me that it wasn’t just myself at stake. This little girl depended on that choice, as did all the kids in my class. I wanted so badly to make a lasting effect on her, to give her some kind of tool to help her cope with the future. I was insecure and not independent and didn’t know who I was when I was younger, and I made mistakes because of it that I regretted deeply for a long time. When I looked at her, I felt this desire to impart the lessons I had learned on her so that she would be better prepared than I was, so she wouldn’t make the same mistakes I had. I wanted her to make different, better mistakes. I wanted her to think back on her life, and remember that one teacher she had that truly made a difference.

And then it hit me. I knew I had to do something, to make a difference in children’s lives. I always knew God had given me this gift of teaching and a heart for children; why hadn’t I thought of this before? I needed to be a teacher!

I also know that I needed to be different. I needed to shine the light Jesus had given me into the lives of others, especially “the least of these.” He taught me the importance of that, and gave me a practical lesson in how to do it, when he put me in the midst of these kids, especially this little girl.

My heart changed. It grew three sizes and poured out more love than it took in. It learned tiny steps forward are better than standing still. Even if you don’t know where you’re going or you don’t think you’re making a difference, keep moving forward.

On the very last day the little girl stuck by my side, even at recess. Then she wrote me a letter telling me to have fun and keep being me. It was like God was telling me, “Well done, my good and faithful servant” through the pencil of one of his littlest servants.

Thank you, Marissa.

~ Nikita Collier

spread light

Cowardice, like courage, is contagious.

By what we say and do,

We can spread darkness

Just as readily as we spread light.

History is not something that takes place elsewhere;

it takes place here;

we all contribute

to making it.

Don’t look for a moment of total triumph.

See engagement as an ongoing struggle,

With victories

and defeats.

“Hope is believing

In spite of the evidence,

Then watching

The evidence change.”

“It is an orientation of

the spirit,

an orientation

of the heart.”

Either we have hope within us

or we don’t;

it is a dimension of

the soul

For to be free

is not merely to cast off one’s chains,

but to live in a way

that respects and enhances the freedom of others.

This past week I had been contemplating what I should do for the blog. I’m a graphic designer, so my initial thought was to express myself the way I know best – visually – but as I thumbed through the pages of the various texts we’ve been reading throughout this term I noticed that there were all of these amazing words I had highlighted. I felt inspired. The words spoke to me and that is how I came to the idea of writing a found poem.

Right now the Jewish people are celebrating Hanukkah (Jewish holiday also known as The Festival of Lights). Now, you might be wondering, “What does Hanukkah have to do with any of this class?” Well, let me tell you. The legend of Hanukkah is that the Greek King Antiochus destroyed the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. A group of Jewish rebels, led by Judah Macabbee, went to rededicate the temple but when they arrived they only found enough oil for one night. Miraculously the oil lasted for eight nights. This is called the miracle of Hanukkah. Like many Jewish myths and legends, our story includes the Jewish people facing the threat of destruction and a courageous soul stepping up to lead them to a miracle.

No, the Jewish people have not come under any new threats of destruction during my time in this course, but what I’ve been learning is that I do not need to wait for that threat. I am here and I am motivated, inspired, and young. I should not wait for something drastic to move me. I should choose to make the first move myself. Like the Jewish people, humans all over the world seem to be very reactive, rather than proactive. We need a terrible tsunami or war to prompt us to aid each other, when really we should be proactively striving to help one another. We like spectacles and grand gestures, but really the battle for humanity will be won through many small acts of kindness over a long period of time.

~ Amy Albertson