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  • Washington and Lee University

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    This Impact is private

    Saturday Food Pantry Distribution
    FIELD WORK IN POVERTY STUDIES (102) - Section 02

    This was a relatively slow day. I restocked some, as well as helped break down empty boxes and recycle them. I also worked with people while they brought their carts out to their car and loaded the food in. Again, this reminded me that if you don't have a car, your access to the food pantry is severely limited. We deliver senior boxes, but that's a small percentage of the people who need help. There is a bus, but transporting food on a bus has serious limitations, especially if you have a high need. You can't reasonably get enough food needed for a high need if you must take it back on the bus. This is also a matter of dignity. People shouldn't feel embarrassed to get food from a food pantry, but societal stigma and fear of judgement is a powerful thing. Even if you could get boxes of food back home from the bus, many people would never even consider doing this as a matter of avoiding embarrassment. I don't know how to fix this problem, but I'd like to continue to think critically about this to see if a viable plan is possible.

    Gave 2.00 hours between 02/07/2020 and 02/10/2020 with Rockbridge Area Relief Association (RARA), Shepherd Program, Washington and Lee University
    Saturday Food Pantry Distribution
    Rockbridge Area Relief Association (RARA)

    I worked on a more personal level with clients this time. It was my second time at RARA, and I have been through all the training now, so I felt more prepared and knew what was expected of me. I worked on the intake system a lot, which is where we register the clients who come in and update any relevant information, as well as check their household size which determines the typical amount of food distributed. I got to talk to people a lot more and get to know them as individuals. I worked in food service for a couple of years (and as a nanny before that) so I'm experienced in serving people and modulating my behavior to fit their wants and/or needs. I talked to some clients who came into RARA, bonded with some of them, while others were more quick and business-like. I was happy to just help them get through if they wanted to be quick, and if they wanted to talk, I really liked being able to get to know them a bit more. Some just needed to vent about their problems and have an empathetic ear. It definitely reminds me of what I loved about community service; I liked working with people. I've been finding myself looking forward to Saturday - not for the weekend, but for getting back out there again.

    Gave 2.50 hours between 01/31/2020 and 02/02/2020 with FIELD WORK IN POVERTY STUDIES (102) - Section 02, Washington and Lee University
    Saturday Food Pantry Distribution
    FIELD WORK IN POVERTY STUDIES (102) - Section 02

    This was my first time volunteering at RARA. I was a bit nervous at first, just because it'd been a while since I'd volunteered and I'd never volunteered in this type of environment (looking back at our high school community service, we didn't really work directly with underprivileged communities that often). I'm also just anxious in social situations in general, and I didn't know what the clients' reactions would be to a W&L student. I myself can get fed up with the amount of wealth and privilege at our school, and while I am not one of the wealthy students at W&L, I certainly understand why there can be a stigma about all W&L students in the Rockbridge area. However, after just a couple of minutes talking to the clients and distributing food, I was completely relaxed. All of the clients were super nice and I got back into the rhythm of community service (and customer service - I have plenty of experience there). I really missed being out in the community and actually helping people in person; I wasn't just supporting certain politicians or voting for people or policies that would hopefully be enacted on day. I was actually on the ground floor getting real work done. I didn't know what the do at first, but once you learn the system and what's expected of you, you can run around getting things that need to be dealt with done and go on to the next place you're needed.

    Gave 2.50 hours between 01/24/2020 and 02/02/2020 with Rockbridge Area Relief Association (RARA), Washington and Lee University

    This Impact is private

    This Impact is private