jcameron

Goodbyes

2007-05-04T21:25:34Z

Last night was my last time volunteering at Open Arms for the school year. It was kind of sad, but I told them I was planning on returning once I moved back to the cities come fall. My experience at Open Arms has been very fulfilling. Although it would have been nice to be able to have the chance to meet some of the clients, I was constantly reminded of all the people I was helping not only here in the twin cities, but also in South Africa. I know what I did was only a little part, just a few hours of my time a week, but if everyone does their little part.. the influence can really add up. I'm really glad I was able to take part in an organization as unique as Open Arms. Their vision and their goals are so incredible. I never would have realized what an epidemic HIV and AIDS is really becoming across the globe, and how these people really need our help. Because of the medicines and drugs they are put on, it’s often hard for them just to get out of bed in the morning, let alone get a hot meal on the table for their family. With doctor appointments, working, etc. people also find it hard to fit healthy, nutritious meals into their day. And with an already suppressed immune system, these people need all the nutrients they can get. Not only does Open Arms provide food for these people, but they provide nutritional food. A nutritionist approves the menu for each week and special accommodations are made for certain people.

I’ve really enjoyed my time at Open Arms and I look forward to returning next year. I hope to partake in the delivery process of the organization and become better acquainted with the community I am helping.

Open Arms, Big Hearts

2007-05-01T04:15:28Z

Since I got such a late start with my service learning this semester, I've been trying to pick up some extra hours here and there. This week I went in today (Monday) in addition to my Thursday shift. I called my parents on the way to Open Arms to talk about the upcoming moving week, and I could tell my mom was a little nervous about me being downtown and riding the bus at 10 o'clock at night. I was a little nervous, but I'm a big girl.. and I assured her I could handle myself. I'm actually really glad I signed up to go in today, because I was the only help Barbara (one of the Chefs at Open Arms) had. We first sealed the containers using a machine they call "Oliver." Oliver seals the containers with a plastic wrap and allows the meals to be kept in the freezer. Then each container has to be labeled. After this was done, I got to make a dessert for the clients. It was a mixture of angel food cake, a cheesecake-mixture and cherries. It was cool to actually make a meal for once, instead of just portioning food into containers. We worked pretty fast and got everything done pretty early. Barbara's daughter came around 9:15pm and we folded the laundry and such. Then Barbara told me I was free to go.. but assuming I would be there til 10pm, I hadn't looked up when the next bus would be coming until then. Barbara, being the amazing person she is, offered to drive me back to the U. I wouldn't have minded taking the bus, but it was reeeal nice to ride back to the dorms in a comfortable, odorless vehicle. It was a lot faster too. This is another example of how the people at Open Arms are so welcoming and appreciative of the time people give to help out. Not only are they passionate about the aims of the organization, but their generosity is still seen once they are done with their day at Open Arms.

A little adventure

2007-04-27T21:07:18Z

Since the weather has been so nice lately and I'm always looking for new ways to get some much needed exercise, I decided to rollerblade from my dorm to Open Arms yesterday. Looking at the map, I thought I had my route all figured out. So I set on my way and found out my map had been deceiving in where roads go through and where they don’t. I found myself at a dead end, with a highway to cross to get to Franklin Ave, where Open Arms is. Excellent. Somehow I found myself near the Cedar Riverside Light Rail station, hoped on going toward what I thought was Franklin. Instead, I of course got on going the wrong way.. and headed toward the Metrodome. Meanwhile, people are giving me ridiculous looks.. all because I had my rollerblades on. Anyways, I finally got back on the Light Rail going the RIGHT way and got to Open Arms. This time we scooped a lot of soup, like we usually do on Thursdays. We also put food into the containers to be packaged and listened to some tunes while doing so. I love volunteering at Open Arms and I really do feel like I am helping the community, but I wish I could take part in the delivery part of the organization as well as helping out in the kitchen. I think if I could just meet some of the clients I would feel better about what I do every week in the kitchen. Its hard to believe you’re really helping someone when you don’t even get to see them, but there are plenty of wonderful, very appreciative people at Open Arms to remind you of how great what you’re doing is.

Wonderful Metro Trans...

2007-04-20T03:56:18Z

So I've been to Open Arms a few times now, so you'd think I'd have the public transportation thing down. So I pulled a metrotransit.com search to check when the 2 would be coming, and made my way out to the bus, got on the 2 and settled in for the almost 30 minute bus ride to Open Arms. However, this time.. the bus stopped at Oak Street and the driver made the "last stop" announcement. Utterly confused, I made my way up to the front of the bus and asked the bus driver what bus would take me to Franklin, as I thought this bus would. She told me I got on the bus going the wrong way. This comment baffled me because I knew I had gotten on the same bus going the same way multiple times before and had been taken straight to Open Arms with no hassle. Anyways.. I eventually figured it out, it just took a little longer than I had hoped. My original shift at Open Arms was supposed to be Wednesdays from 5-7pm, but somehow things got a little messed up and there are always enough people for Wednesdays, so now I go the same time but on Thursdays. Tonight was a little slow; all we did was scoop soup for most of the evening. I met a woman that’s training for a bike race so it was really interesting to talk to her about that. Meeting other volunteers is one of the great things about working at Open Arms. With a lot of organizations, you don’t get to interact with other volunteers as much. But here, I get to hear the stories of why people decided to volunteer at Open Arms and actually get to know them.

First Times a Charm

2007-04-12T21:32:32Z

Last night was my first official shift in the kitchen at Open Arms. I was so excited to finally start. My shift started by meeting the head chefs, Scott and Barbara. Barbara showed me how to get ready to work in the kitchen. We get to wear some pretty stylin aprons, then we have to lint roll our clothes to get rid of any hair or anything and then thoroughly wash you hands. And after washing your hands, you have to sanitize them as well. All the precautions are taken because we're handling food that will be eaten by people who have very week immune systems. At first I was a little nervous about not washing my hands enough or forgetting to use gloves or something, but there are plenty of wash and sanitizing stations that it’s so convenient. Anyways... yesterday we dished a meal into the containers and scooped soup. You put one of everything into a compartment, and then repeat this 250 or so times. It gets a little repetitive but it was funny meeting and talking with the other volunteers. The two other volunteers that were there had been there for years so they were able to show me how things are done. One of the ladies I was working with made a really great point, she said that a lot of her friends and people she knows don't volunteer because they figure with their busy work schedule and family, they just dont have time for it. But she comes in twice a month to help out in the kitchen and said its something she always looks forward to doing. I was so impressed by how nice and friendly everyone was and I can't wait to go back next week!

Its about time

2007-03-29T15:21:33Z

So last night marked the first hours of volunteering I have completed for this semester!!! After all the frustration with Children's Hospital and everything, I am extremely glad to finally have a place to go each week. After the orientation I am feeling confident that I will really enjoy my time at Open Arms. I am a little bummed I don't have a car here so I will not be able to make deliveries and have direct contact, but I will most likely be working in the kitchen and prepping the food for the clients. At the Orientation we went over the goals, history and mission statement the Open Arms organization. Their mission is "with open arms we nourish body, mind and soul" and their visions is "we see a world of abundance where people won't go hungry." I think the ambitions of the people at Open Arms are so wonderful and they are so passionate about what they do. We were able to take a tour of the building where all the magic happens and meet many of the staff members that I will be working with once I officially start.

I think the story about the history of Open Arms and how it started was one of the interesting things I heard at the orientation. Bill Rowe, the founder of Open Arms, decided to cook some meals for some of is neighbors who were not able to get food from the dining center for the AIDS community. He did this out of his own home kitchen for over and year before Open Arms moved to a Church Basement. About 10 years later, Open Arms bought it's own building where it still is today. It's crazy how one person's little idea 20 years ago is helping hundreds of people in the twin cities as well as all of the people who are able to take advantage of the community center in Africa.

Spring Break and Habits

2007-03-22T23:09:02Z

So last week was spring break! It was extremely nice to get some time off of school and everything. Before I left I was emailing with Monica about setting something up with volunteering at Open Arms. I am now all set and will be able to go in for orientation next week! Finalllllyyyyy I have found a place that WANTS me to volunteer! I'm really excited about working at Open Arms. It sounds like an amazing organization with great ideas and an incredibly positive attitude and outlook on things. I found it most interesting that not only does Open Arms help people living with AIDS or other chronic illnesses around the Minneapolis area, but that they also send meals and aid over to their sister organization in Cape Town, South Africa. I'm very anxious to learn more about this organization and what part I will be able to play in helping these people.

For this week we were assigned to read Robert Bellah's Habits of the Heart. This reading mostly talked about how different people of different communities get involved with their own communities. Part of the reading talked about a town called Tocqueville. In Tocqueville there are independent citizens as well as town fathers. The town father is supposedly the character ideal of the independent citizen. "The town father advocates ideals that are in the end unable to guide him through the maze of economic interdependence and political conflict that defines his social world" (Bellah et al, 170). Although this quote confused me a little, I think it means the town father is the ideal for how the average businessman should balance his drive for his business succeeding with a moral concern for his community.

Black Metropolis

2007-03-08T22:00:10Z

This week we we're assigned to read St. Clair Drake and Horace Cayton's Black Metropolis. The reading was quite eye opening and gave me a glimpse into a world I am very unfamiliar with. From the reading, I learned that in the 60's, black people were so discriminated against that they dreaded work and needed a place to go to escape the "white world." It is so sad to think that as a whole, we the people of the United States made black people feel so unwelcome and degraded them so much here. Just because of their skin color we couldn't accept them as equals. We discussed in class ways this reading could relate to our service work. As I had originally planned to volunteer at the Children's hospital, I could relate the reading to a situation in which I was working with a black patient. In this sort of situation I would need to be conscious of things I say and try to understand how here they might come from or their history/background may affect them.

This week we have also continued working on our research papers. Mine, about pediatric sports injuries, has been a little tough to find academic sources for. I’ve tried to find sources that give specific examples or case studies, but haven’t had much luck. Academic Search Premier has been helpful in finding basic information, but maybe because this is such a new topic, there have not been very many detailed articles on it.

7 Up

2007-03-02T18:42:00Z

Volunteering Update: Still no word from Childrens. And I'm still working on finding a new organization.

I've really enjoyed the video called "7 Up" we've been watching in class. It's interesting to see how the kids change so much from year to year. It's funny how you can still tell who they are even 7 years later, but a lot of their thoughts and views have changed. Also, it seems like kids' either got into the school they wanted to and are sticking to "the plan" or they decided not to go to school and don't really seem to have a lot of ambition at all. The one thing I don't understand about the movie is that at the beginning and end of every segment the narrator says "give me a child when he is seven and I'll give you the man." Originally I thought the author/person doing the study was going to observe a group of 7 year olds and then make predictions about what they would be like years later. However, it seems like it's only a documentary and he's not making any hypotheses or predictions about how the children will change over time. It is still interesting to see how different kids answer questions differently, but I think it may have been more interesting if the person/people carrying out the study would have made some predictions before interviewing them a second or third time.

Frustrated

2007-02-23T05:16:30Z

With no word STILL from children's, I'm beginning to have little hope that they will be able to offer me a spot to volunteer at the hospital this year. I was really looking forward to volunteering at Children's and I am really frustrated with the whole process I've gone through to try to get in. I went through the whole application process, got a TB test and went through the orientation and they didn't have the decency to even let me know they wouldn't be able to offer me a spot. It looks like I am going to have to talk to Monica to find a new place to volunteer so I can start getting some hours!

With no volunteering experiences to write about, I've decided to share a little bit about my research paper. For my paper I decided to write about pediatric sports injuries and how they have become a rising concern in the past couple decades. My major is biology and I hope to work in the Sports Medicine field some day so this subject is very relevant to my future plans. I think it's crazy how so many kids in sports these days are having Tommy John surgery or other extensive procedures done because they started focusing on one sport too heavily at too young of an age. Young bodies are still developing and bones and muscles are very susceptible to injury during elementary and middle school. I think parents will have to play a large role is turning this wave of injuries around. Preventing their kids from focusing on one sport too early and pushing them to succeed in one sport is only making things worse. Kids need to develop all the different muscle groups in their body or they will suffer severe injuries. I've really enjoyed reading case studies and about all the research that has been done on this topic and look forward to completing my paper.

Children's Orientation

2007-02-16T22:52:32Z

Last Thursday was quite an eventful night. With this being the only night the Orientation at Children's hospital was offered, I had to miss hockey practice to make it. The bus ride down wasn't too bad, a little long, but I didn't get lost which was quite an accomplishment. I feel the orientation was very helpful in preparing me for things I may face or run across during my time volunteering at the hospital. The most informative part of the orientation was the "volunteer panel". They had volunteers from all areas of the hospital come in and share their experiences, their favorite parts about their volunteer work and also some challenges they've faced while volunteering at Children's. We were able to ask them questions about their work, which was very helpful. One of the volunteers talked about his opportunity to work with patient and staff safety in the hospital and how he is working on projects to help cut down on avoidable accidents in the hospital. He also talked about his supervisor, a doctor at Children’s, is very helpful in providing him with job shadowing opportunities and recommendation letters whenever he needs them. We went over the hospitals policies and talked a lot about patient confidentiality. After the orientation, and few other people from the class and myself waited a half hour out in the cold for the bus! I had never been so happy to see a bus in my entire life. The orientation made me really exciting to start my volunteering. There are so many opportunities available to me through Children’s hospital and I am really looking forward to taking advantage of them all. We went over the hospitals policies and talked a lot about patient confidentiality. After the orientation, and few other people from the class and myself waited a half hour out in the cold for the bus! I had never been so happy to see a bus in my entire life. It took up an entire night of mine, but I feel that the orientation made me really exciting to start my volunteering. There are so many opportunities available to me through Children’s hospital and I am really looking forward to taking advantage of them all. Hearing the volunteer’s first hand stories about helping kids and really making a difference in their lives means so much to them. One of the volunteers shared a story about how she came in and played with a little girl in the sibling play area. A few weeks later she saw the same girl and the little girl remembered her name and everything. I think Children’s will be a great place for me to volunteer long term. After this class and the semester are over, the leader of the orientation was telling us we can take a leave of absence and return in the fall when we come back to school. Hopefully this will work out and I will be able to volunteer here for as long as I am going to school at the U. Next year I will definitely be bringing a car!!

Working

2007-02-02T05:43:54Z

As I have not yet begun my volunteering, I decided to blog about the reading from Working that we read this week. I found the readings of the various people extremely interesting. It’s crazy how Terkel took ordinary people with ordinary jobs and got them to talk about their lives. The two people I found most interesting were the two brothers, the police man and the fire man. They both had such extraordinary stories to share. The policeman worked in a city which he compared to Harlem, except worse. The quote I found really interested was, “I’ve been shot. The only thing I haven’t been in Bedford-Stuyvesant is stabbed. I’ve been spit at. I’ve been hit with bottles, rocks, bricks...�? (Terkel, 573). With all of the negative things that happen to him on the job, he had no complaints and seemed eager to help people. The one thing that hit me about being extremely hard about his job is that with all these terrible things he sees, he’s worried he will come home and not feel anything. His brother, Tom Patrick, also seemed so eager to help people. He felt like he could relate to them because they were ordinary people just like him. He said he would hang out with people as friends and forget he was on duty, because he fit in so well with them. Tom Patrick also had some remarkable stories about fires he had been to and things he had seen. I liked how he talked about firemen and how the lieutenant is the first one in the fire. He is someone to be looked up to, and that is something he never found in the police department. I thought the reading was very interesting and well written.

Volunteer Choice

2007-01-29T02:41:51Z

For English 1016-Service learning, I have decided to volunteer at the Children's hospital in Minneapolis. With my goal of attending medical school and becoming a doctor someday, I think this will be an excellent experience for me. I chose Children's hospital because I love working with kids and I love being in a hospital setting. I’m looking into possibly going into Pediatric Sports Medicine, so this will give me the opportunity to see how well I work with kids and if this is the career path I want to choose. I've been volunteering back home at the local hospital, and love every second of it. Something about being in a hospital and helping people really makes me feel good about myself. I am looking forward to spending quality time with kids and actually being able to get to know them. I will be a little nervous on the first day just because I don’t know exactly what to expect, but mostly I am just anxious to get started. The process to apply to become a volunteer at Children's has been a little overwhelming. Filling out the long application, finding someone who has the time and ability to write a solid recommendation letter, receiving a TB test and attending an orientation have been very extensive tasks. Finally I have completed the process and I believe it will definitely be worth it!

Service Learning

2007-01-18T18:09:19Z

I chose the community learning section so i would have set time in my schedule designated to volunteering and getting involved with the community. I've wanted to volunteer here in the cities but havent worked it into my schedule yet. At home I've volunteered at our hospital. I think volunteering and getting involved is very important for everyone to do. I chose the learning component because it will force me to get up and get out and become involved with the community. With so many organizations in the Minneapolis area, I look forward to hearing about them in this class. I thought it would be a good idea to hear about different organizations instead of just volunteering at a hospital like I have done at home the past few years. I look forward to finding a unique organization in this GIANT city.