I have searched and searched for the words to write here. Most people, knowing me, would be shocked to know that I am at a loss for them. Being a part of Lesley Delivers for the past three years has been one of the best experiences of my college career. It gave me a chance to grow and learn as a leader, and it gave me a chance to teach others. But most of all, it opened my eyes. I am grateful for Jill Schreider for starting this organization and for believing in me enough to give me a leadership position. I didn’t believe in myself then, and I remember stumbling over the guidelines every time I read them before we made sandwiches. I also remember being scared to approach people to give them the sandwiches. But I had a great mentor, and she showed me that there was nothing to be scared of, in fact, these were the people I ended up learning a lot of the life lessons I have from. Lesley Delivers gave me my passion. The people who came on the runs and the people we served gave me tested me and gave me strength. There is nothing I can say to explain how much this organization means to me. Nothing.
Last night was my last sandwich run, and I want to thank everyone who made it amazing – everyone who has supported me through my LD journey. It means the world. Seeing all the faces of people who are passionate about what we do and who I love made the night that much more special. I want to thank two people in particular who went through the trouble of getting everyone together and making the night as special as it was for me.
Lesley Delivers’ new Co-Presidents: Elissa May and Ashley Wedekind.
This is my way of passing off the torch – and I can’t think of two better people. They are both incredibly strong leaders and amazingly caring people. Their passion for LD and for making it better is inspiring. I am confident that they will take it and make it the best it has ever been – and bring a new amount of awareness to campus. I am beyond proud of them and I know that, as I step down and they step up, they will flourish.
Therefore, although I am leaving, I want everyone to look forward to the future of Lesley Delivers because it is a bright one. And I can’t wait to hear about everything that is happening with it.
Thank you all for making this the most amazing experience for me. I am truly humbled and grateful.
-Lyndsey
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Walk for Hunger
This past weekend, there was a group of Lesley students that took part in Project Bread’s Walk for Hunger. This group was put together by four LU student organizations. Lesley Delivers, Strides, Students for Social Justice, and Local Acts of Fun. The Walk for Hunger is a 20 mile walk around the Boston area starting at Boston Commons. This year, the walk “raised $3.6 million to provide food for 448 emergency food programs in 130 Massachusetts cities and towns”*. I am proud to say that Lesley University students contributed to that. I am also very proud of the leaders of this trip who worked so hard to make this happen. They didn’t have much time to fundraise or pull a lot of people for sign ins, and yet they managed to get 20 people to walk and $285 raised. I can see the passion in them for this issue and they do their best every day to make a difference – and they are.
During the walk, we say many signs, and many people who inspired us. There was one woman who had done over 20 of these walks and wore it proudly on her shirt. There were people holding signs by the Charles River reminding the walkers that people weren’t just hungry during that day, they were hungry everyday – and that what we were doing was only a portion of what we could be to help. As I walked through the lunch area, I heard people talking to each other about what they do to combat hunger on a daily basis. And to me, that is what this walk was for. To remind people that there are ways to help, there are things to be done to end hunger. To end homelessness. That’s why I am so happy that Lesley Delivers exists on campus, for people who were inspired by the walk or by a family in Harvard Square holding a sign saying they are hungry.
Even though more than a few of us came away with aches and sunburns, it was all worth it. Because none of those pains even compare to what we were walking for. If I opened the eyes of one person while doing this, all of it is worth it.
I’m going to leave you with words from the sign that caught my attention and will stay with me for a long time. Because it was made by a stranger, to inspire other strangers. “You’re going to make it after all.”
* For more information about Project Bread’s Walk for Hunger go to their website:
www.projectbread.org
During the walk, we say many signs, and many people who inspired us. There was one woman who had done over 20 of these walks and wore it proudly on her shirt. There were people holding signs by the Charles River reminding the walkers that people weren’t just hungry during that day, they were hungry everyday – and that what we were doing was only a portion of what we could be to help. As I walked through the lunch area, I heard people talking to each other about what they do to combat hunger on a daily basis. And to me, that is what this walk was for. To remind people that there are ways to help, there are things to be done to end hunger. To end homelessness. That’s why I am so happy that Lesley Delivers exists on campus, for people who were inspired by the walk or by a family in Harvard Square holding a sign saying they are hungry.
Even though more than a few of us came away with aches and sunburns, it was all worth it. Because none of those pains even compare to what we were walking for. If I opened the eyes of one person while doing this, all of it is worth it.
I’m going to leave you with words from the sign that caught my attention and will stay with me for a long time. Because it was made by a stranger, to inspire other strangers. “You’re going to make it after all.”
* For more information about Project Bread’s Walk for Hunger go to their website:
www.projectbread.org
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