Take Action Project

I volunteered at the North End soup kitchen in Flint. I decided to do this in the end because the whole idea of the take action project was stepping out of your comfort zone, and putting yourself in a new situation. Living near Albion, Michigan, a much smaller town than Flint but one that suffers from the same economic issues, I would often volunteer at the local food bank especially around the holidays, but I had never gotten the opportunity to help out at a soup kitchen. When I arrived I was told to get to work right away, washing potatoes, stirring soups, setting tables, making salads, and mopping floors.
As I was assembling sandwhiches the man next to me asked me what my major was in college, I told him that I was an elementary education major and he said he had just retired from being a drafting teacher in a local high school. He told me that he was disturbed that only boys took his class and he alerted the principle to the alarming trend. The principle said "Oh girls aren't interested in that kind of thing." The drafting teacher told the principle he was wrong and that girls would be valuable parts of the class and should have the opportunity to partake. The principle relented and the teacher I was talking to said that in three years time he had a class split equally amongst boys and girls. He said that one girl he is still in contact with is now a successful architect because of his class. This conversation reminded me that although in the United States there is far more gender equality, there are still negative stereotypes that are prominent in our society like "mens" and "womens" jobs. Architecture is a high paying career reserved as a more masculine profession but when girls are allowed opportunities they are more likely to pursue "mens jobs" and succeed, breaking down those gender barriers. I thought this conversation really demonstrated the message of our class that education really makes an impact and a change in every life, and that women can excel in careers other than the "nurturing" professions.
I also felt such warmth as I prepared food and handed it out to over one hundred people that came through the doors. It made me think that so often I only think of myself and my problems and issues. It was a way to get out of myself and help other people, individuals who although they have less than most are more grateful for the things they do have. I saw an abundance of human kindness phrases like "please" and "thank you," men pulling chairs out for women, and tipping their caps. I have signed up to work again and I am looking forward to it. Volunteering at the food bank I realized that there is so much one person can do to make the day of someone else, even if it is as simple as slicing a piece of cake and putting it on someone's tray. Small acts of love really matter, they mean something, and one person really can make a difference in our world.