Making a difference that's tasty and fun

If spending three hours having fun with co-workers or a group of friends also provided a meaningful service, why not do it? Many volunteers at United Caring Services (UCS) embrace this philosophy and plan a day each month to come together to prepare a meal for the area's homeless. Among them, is Lee Ann Shafer, academic program manager and bachelor of general studies advisor in USI's Division of Outreach and Engagement.  She has planned and coordinated several cooking events for the shelter. "If I can make sure that other volunteers are here showing that there's a caring community then that's what I'm going to do - that's what appeals to me personally." UCS began as a small soup kitchen established by local churches and has expanded to include a day shelter, night shelter, and transitional apartments.

Shafer has been a donor and volunteer for UCS for ten years, and recently was named president elect for its board of directors. Much of her involvement revolves around food. The shelter provides 10,000 meals monthly. Because of the volume of food cooked and served, last spring Shafer requested the help of Dr. Julie McCullough, program director and associate professor in Food and Nutrition at USI. McCullough, along with Food and Nutrition instructors, Beth Young and Elizabeth Ramos, formulated three service learning projects to benefit UCS. The end results is a better understanding of the nutritional needs of this special population as well as a food safety video for volunteers, an inventory of stored food goods, and a cookbook with recipes that utilize the excess items the shelter regularly has on hand.

There are numerous ways to provide assistance with this growing organization, and many from the USI family have participated. The possibility for service learning projects is vast. Al Holen, associate professor of art, raised money by having her ceramic students and volunteers create ceramic bowls, which were filled with soup and sold. The event was called Empty Bowls and raised nearly $8,000 of much needed funds. Rick Beury and Paul Kinner from the Information Technology Department provided computer services, such as networking, software installation, security, and repair. Dr. Anne Statham, director of the Service Learning Program and professor of sociology, has enlisted student volunteers during the annual Make a Difference Day, as well as students in her Ethics of Global Engagement class to spend a day cooking and serving UCS guests.

Shafer feels that there is an obligation to give back to the community. "I charge any graduate - anybody who's going through a college experience - to find ways they can utilize their talents and credentials to invest in the community in some way," she said. Her enthusiasm has grown along with the organization as they look to expand beyond the basic needs of a bed and a meal to a more holistic approach to human services. "One thing we've really tried to work on over the last year is to think of this organization as going beyond emergency relief and to look at the overall ability to rehabilitate and transform folks," she said. More about United Caring Services is online at http://www.unitedcaringservices.org/

Volunteer opportunity:

For anyone who would like to spend a couple of hours in the UCS kitchen, here's an opportunity to do so with the guidance of Lee Ann Shafer from 3:30 to 6:00p.m., Thursday, January 30. Individuals may contact her by email lshafer@usi.edu or by phone 812/464-1879 to volunteer. Food is provided by the shelter and, possibly the best part, no one has to do the dishes afterwards.

Anyone interested in cooking but unable to attend should contact Lee Ann for future dates.

Service learning opportunities:

Faculty who wish to contribute by adding a service learning element to a course may do so through Dr. Anne Statham by email aastatham@usi.edu or phone 812/465-1203. Guests have many needs to be filled beyond a full stomach: dental hygiene, health screenings, fundraising, marketing, writing and promotion, literacy, arts and recreation, and fitness are all needed and appreciated. ♦