On Volunteering

Putting in my time yesterday got me thinking: my gig at Passion Works is as much about work as it is relating with the artists. And I have to admit, many times the work can get trying. Yesterday, toward the end, I was counting the minutes because the artists weren't in and I had to do a very repetitive task (stamping candy envelopes for Halloween).

The mountain of envelopes taunts me.

I guess I was luckier than the saps the day before though, who had to move a ton of junk down from the attic, scraping their knees along the way. But more to the point: as my friend said, there's value in volunteer work, but is it worth the effort? Perhaps it's my formerly Catholic masochism speaking, but I think so.

No, the work I do is no match for having good conversations with artists, but in a way it certainly benefits them. The outlining I did for passion flowers will go toward potential sales of those items someday; the stamping of those envelopes--while not really benefiting the artists--will bring some joy to a wee trick-or-treater come Monday. It's important to keep this in perspective, or you lose sight of the fact that whatever you do matters.

I'm agnostic, leaning on atheist, yet I go to plenty of church meals throughout the week and partake in plenty of before-meal prayers, because I do identify with one feature of organized religion: service. Sometimes I marvel at Judith Svendsem, the woman who volunteers at UCM's Thursday Supper and the Church of Christ's dinner and probably countless other venues. And she's getting on in years, to top it off. I guess some people get the concept of indirect service, of not seeing the returns of one's actions but trusting that they're there. It comes easier for them than it does for me, that's for sure. And for that they ought to be thankful.

See below for some pictures of the many things people were busying themselves with at the 'Works:

UCM's Community Feast

For those of you who've seen "Fight Club," you'll likely remember that the main character loved attending group therapies, saying they made him feel more alive. I may not attend free meals for the same reason, but boy, do I attend a lot of them. I interviewed a couple people at one particular meal, Thursday Supper, held at United Campus Ministries on College St. How does this pertain to the blog? you may be asking. Well, besides serving cheap college students like me, UCM caters its meal toward those in need.

Here's what got me caught:

First off, I interviewed a senior volunteer by the name of Essam Mikhail. Mikhail said the meal has been going on for 16 years now; he was involved in its early stages and only just recently came back to help. The meal is funded with money from the Student Activities Commission and donations from the community.

"We're perpetually short," Mikhail said, "but we do our best."

How short? According to the director of the operation, Lauren Reilly, a senior at Ohio University, UCM gets a mere $40 a week to cover Thursday Supper, and $25 to cover Saturday Lunch. Yet they manage to serve at least 20 people each Thursday. Indeed, the one change Mikhail would make to the program is to get a more "secure" funding source.

When asked why he chooses to volunteer, Mikhail jokingly replied, "Because I have no life." He added," I enjoy volunteering. I've been volunteering most of my adult life. And this is so much in demand."

Judith Svendsem, another volunteer, said she worked at the Supper because "it gives (her) a sense of satisfaction. For one thing, you meet a lot of people." She emphasized one thing, though, which I found interesting: "It's not about poverty. It's a community meal."

Here's Mikhail and Svendsem enjoying their meal:

I also interviewed Reilly a bit more in-depth. She's been directing the Supper for only six weeks--just this quarter. She said she does it partly because it's an internship for her major, social work, and partly because she likes the communal atmosphere, the values UCM has, and the enjoyment she gets from it. In the future, she wants to make the meal more community-oriented. "Many students come and eat, and feel bad if they're not volunteering; it shouldn't be that way," she said.

In terms of preparation, Reilly plans meals on Tuesdays, shops Thursdays, and starts cooking at 4:00 (the meal starts at 5:30). She's usually done around 7:30.

Reilly estimates that around 10 percent of the people who eat Thursday Dinner are students, another 10 percent "regulars," and the rest those who "really need it."

"The majority of the people need the food," she said.

According to one regular patron, one person at the dinner that night actually "lives in the woods" and goes to Good Works regularly.

Here's pictures of Reilly and the general lay of the land:


Until next time!