January 13-17, 2013

Students:  Dewight Carruth, Daniel Heckman, Kevin Hughes, Ashley Kiani, Virginia Licona, Jasmine Richardson, Emma Selsky, Kamilah Wakil, Joel Youmans, and Margaret Zimmermann

Advisors:  Rick Leith and Juliette Ludeker

For one of the Center for Service Learning's 2013 Alternative Winter Break trips, students traveled to New York City to work on the issues of hunger and homelessness.  The trip kicked off with a visit to the newly opened September 11th memorial, where the group took a tour.  On Monday morning, they began their service with Youth Services Opportunities Project (YSOP).  While working with YSOP, the group volunteered at a different soup kitchen, food pantry, or homeless shelter throughout the city each day.  They served meals and gave numerous bags of food to people in need.  Collectively, over 2,700 people were served.  On Tuesday night, the group had dinner with members of the homeless community and were able to hear their stories.

In addition to their service with YSOP, the group enjoyed meeting and practicing with the New York City Street Soccer team, one of sixteen U.S. teams that use soccer to empower homeless individuals to achieve their goals in life.                          

The group arrives in NYC.

Daniel, Ashley, Kamilah, Emma and Kevin are ready to get started volunteering!

Maggie, Rick, Joel, and Virginia prepare chicken salad to be served with a meal.

The group does warm up drills in preparation for a scrimmage with the Street Soccer New York team.

Before the Tuesday evening dinner with members of the homeless community, the group played games and had a snack.

Virginia, Maggie, and another volunteer opening and cleaning fish fillets to be cooked.

Emma and Ashley in the YSOP kitchen.

Dewight and Rick pull items from the stock room for bags of food being picked up by families.

Joel and Maggie worked in the fresh produce section of the food pantry.

The 2013 Winter Break trip to New York City was a wonderful experience.  Our thanks to the dedicated students and advisors who participated!