Getting Our Feet Wet
Today was a great start in our focus on homelessness and hunger. We spent the day at La Casa Norte, which has many programs of outreach throughout Chicago. I have never been to Chicago before, and this city is so beautiful and unique in its own way. I know a few of us among the group recognized homelessness and hunger as a problem but never actually got ourĀ hands and feet wet doing actual service.
La Casa Norte
The building was very beautiful, modern, and had a sleek design compared to the older buildingsĀ that surrounded it. We have worked with them in previous years, but we almost drove by it because of the new building. We walked in where there was a theme of green, gray, and white. There were lots of windows to bring in the light. It felt open, but I felt a sense of comfort walking even with the men working on construction in the background. I knew that they are some sort of help, and they make a great impact on the Chicago community.
The Service
We got the opportunity to help build some shelves for one of their rooms, make beautiful and colorful banners for a few of their facilities, and organize their food pantry. We started each activity which led to a plan for what each person would be doing, followed by teamwork and communication. The service was a lot of fun, and we got to goof off a little bit, too. It didn’t feel like we were making a difference, but we realize that even if we weren’t directly helping the people suffering from homelessness, we were still providing for these groups. Indirect service isn’t always what we expect from when we serve, but we must recognize that we are making an impact on people.