As a group for our service learning project we are asking people that we know and people that we see everyday for cans and non nonperishable items. We will be collecting these items and bringing them to locate food shelters for families that need them. We did this because it is important for everyone to have a meal. It is not right that people have cans upon cans of food in their pantry and they never think about donating. Another reason why we do this is because I hope that others around me will get the same idea and will donate also, It is true that it takes a village to make a change.
http://www.foodbankcenc.org/site/PageServer?pagename=getinvolved_fooddrive
http://www.gbfb.org/
Ashley Perin Reflection
I feel like this service learning project had an impact on the greater good. It got people people involved who didn't know how easy it was to help. All it takes is a couple of dollars to buy some canned foods to help people eat and survive. This project impacted my family and friends because at my neighborhood Christmas Party I had everyone who was coming to my house bring a canned or non-perishable food idea. I got about 30 cans and some people even brought over a few cans. It is a great thing to see a community coming together to help the greater good.
This is something I do on a regular basis. I like to bring my old clothes to good will instead of selling them to consignment shops or giving them to my friends (who already have a closet full of clothes). I also go to supermarkets and when I see sales I always buy extra canned items and give them to food shelters or to a donation center.
Yes and no to teaching a service learning project. I do think I would teach and have students create a service learning project. I would like to teach third grade so I do not know how helpful they could be. But I could just have them collect cans and clothing at home and bring them in and tell me why they did this. I think it is good for kids to realize that they are lucky to have so much. BUT, on the other side some kids do not have a lot and some parents can not afford to feed their kids three meals. I think i would have to think a lot about what service learning project I would have my students do.
Alyssa's Reflection-
Our service learning project while in a small scale, has an impact on the greater good. Ending homelessness and hunger is a HUGE task that is going to take years to end, if at all. I feel like I am more aware of what is actually going on in the world and what I can do to help my fellow Americans. I think the part of this whole thing that hit me the most was about children and how much children are affected by becoming homeless or being below the poverty line. I think as a teacher, it is important to know who your students are and if you have a student that may be in a situation, its your duty to help them still achieve all that they can, no matter what their economic standing.
I'm looking forward to having more free time, because I really want to do more with homelessness and trying to end it. I want to be able to go to a food pantry or a soup kitchen and really see things from the other side. It's really given me a different perspective on life. I appreciate the little things, and spend less on the stupid things. this whole project has really shown me that not everyone is the same and that some people need help to get back on their feet. The best thing about this whole project is being able to help out. $1 can turn into EIGHT meals, that's amazing to me.
I think that if I were to teach service learning projects in the classroom, I would do a whole class project. Where I want to teach younger kids, I think it would be great to take a field trip to a local park and clean it up. It would be great to help children get involved and to see that what they do is important and I think I would definitely use service learning projects to teach my students to become better people.
Brian Benson's reflection
I feel this service learning project did have an impact on the greater good because anybody could have and still could get involved. It definitely had an impact on me because I would not normally do anything like this on my own. I also think it had an impact on the greater good because although this is by no means going to solve homelessness but it will help more people eat tonight, and that's a start. I will definitely do something like this again because my family usually donates old clothes or coats during the winter months.
I will probably teach and most schools already participate in a school wide service learning project, such as food drives. I would probably focus my service learning lesson around the school wide project. It is important for young students to learn how to be productive members of society and I feel as educators it will be part of our job to teach our students how to do so.
Elizabeth's Reflection:
Our service learning project had an impact on the greater good. By having a food drive we were able to collect food and donate to an organization that needs it. Without people donating food, many organizations wouldn’t be able to survive because they depend on the goodness of people. By donating food we are also helping the large amount of hungry and homeless people out there who don’t have enough money to buy food for themselves. And we were also able to educate others on the problem and how to help.
I would do something like this again because I feel that every bit happens, no matter how big or small it is. Especially since I am more educated on the subject I am now aware of all the ways to help. In the past I have volunteered at soup kitchens and food pantries and I look forward to doing it again in the future.
I would teach and have students create their own service learning project because it allows them to get involved in issues that are happening around them. It also allows them to become educated on a topic that interest them and then be able to take action on it.
Below is a link to a video from channel 5 new. It is on the problem of hunger in Massachusetts, and the work of The Greater Boston Food Bank. Even though we didn’t donate our food to The Greater Boston Food Bank, this video shows how places like this really need others to volunteer and donate. Every bit helps!
-Elizabeth
