Lesley Delivers: Taking a Small Bite Out of Hunger

The Value of Warm Feet

2011-11-09T11:48:00.000-08:00

On a day to day basis, we worry about what we’re going to where, what we’re doing this weekend, and may be when that next paper is due. Between classes, work, and family obligations, I personally find it hard to slow down and take a minute to appreciate the aspects of my life I don’t have to worry about. I will be able to eat lunch today even though I didn’t bring food from home and tonight I will be sleeping in my own warm bed. I know where my next meal is coming and I know that when it gets cold outside, I have shelter and proper clothing to protect me from the climate. Before I decided to participate in Lesley Delivers, I lived my life aware that I was lucky, but unaware of exactly how lucky. Poverty is a scary aspect of our reality to many people because it is a threat to all. During our reflections, many people comment on how much this experience helps them to appreciate the small things in life. We talk about how even when we think we have nothing to offer, we always have the opportunity to form a bond with someone. For me, Lesley Delivers has helped me to move on from the fear of poverty and realize the humanity in it. I no longer shy away when I am approaching someone on the street; I smile and wish them a good day. Sometimes a smile and the recognition that, yes, I see you, is worth more than our pocket change. This is a lesson that, as president, I hope to provide to the Lesley community. Regardless of their condition or how they ended up there, we are all people and we all deserve to be seen.

Lesley Delivers is a unique opportunity to make a difference in the lives of individuals in our community. Some people we see only once and others we see every week. Last night, we approached a man that we have routinely seen. The fact that we approached him to offer a sandwich is not new, but his response was. In all of my time with Lesley Delivers, we have always offered and he has never accepted. Just as our guidelines specify, we respect his right to decline. Last night this man accepted our food. For me, this moment showed the impact that Lesley Delivers has with this community. To accept food from a stranger, there has to be a certain amount of trust. I do not know anything about this man’s journey, but I do know that last night this man trusted us. I am also happy to add that in addition to a meal, we were able to offer this man and the other people we met last night, a clean pair of socks. We have enough socks, donated by Boston Bowl, to last through the rest of the semester! In March, during Hunger and Homelessness Week, we sponsor a panel of members of the homeless community. One of the most striking comments that a participant made last year was that a clean pair socks was the best thing anyone could offer. Because of that comment, I worked to get sock donations this semester and we will now be able to hand them out with every sandwich.

I want to thank everyone who came out last night and to everyone that supports our initiative. Coming up at Lesley Delivers is our annual Coat and Blanket Drive, sponsored by Lesley’s softball team, beginning on November 14^th. Boxes will be all around campus and we welcome all gently worn coats, blankets, and winter accessories! Also, on Tuesday, November 15^th we will be co-sponsoring a movie event with Community Service Club and Students for Social Justice. We will be showing the movie, Pursuit of Happyness, that is about a man and his young son who find themselves homeless. The movie is based on the man’s autobiography and is truly an inspiration. Following the movie, we will be having a short discussion about portrayals of the homeless and hungry population in the media. After discussing issues of poverty we will then have the opportunity to take action by participating in a usual Lesley Delivers run! All aspects of the evening are optional, but we hope that people will come to this unique event. We are suggesting a donation of a non-perishable food and in exchange you will receive a raffle ticket for the chance to win one of three amazing prizes! We hope to see many of you there!

Again, thank you to all participants and supporters for making this semester as co-president of Lesley Delivers far exceed my expectations!

- Ashley

A bread-tastic surprise

2011-10-26T12:23:00.000-07:00

Last night we encountered a fair amount of people within the first the few minutes of our run on the stretch by CVS. I continued down the Au Bon Pain route, and noticed some of the same people I've seen out other weeks. Something that caught my attention on the way back was a huge box of bread sitting at the back of one of the entrances to the t (the one right in front of the new Starbucks and Pinkberry). It looked like it from Panera. I know Panera doesn't keep their leftovers at the end of the night, but I'm pleased that someone was willing to drop the extras off at Harvard Square, instead of throwing them out. I mean, who doesn't love bread?

Last week we also saw some food left out near the church. I kind of wish there could be one place where people knew to leave food, and then people in need would know where to go. Speaking of that, one thing that came up during our discussion was that a usually popular spot near the Tannery that has been empty the last few weeks. The group that takes that route noticed that the small area closed off by tarps and wooden boards had been nailed shut. In previous seasons we had a relationship with some of the people we saw frequently, and we knew that closed off space was a safe place to leave sandwiches, blankets, coats, or anything else we might have to offer. We had been told by people who we frequently saw on our runs that it was safe spot, and that they would get to the people who needed them.

Something else that came up during discussion was that, as you all have probably noticed, it has gotten quite chilly outside! We do have a coat and blanket drive coming up in November, and we'll pass out the donations on our runs. I think it gets even harder to see people who are without a home as the weather gets worse, and I know I'll be glad to do what I can to help, even if it's as simple as offering them a blanket with their sandwich.

Ginny

Lesley Delivers and Occupy Boston

2011-10-18T20:09:00.000-07:00

Both groups on our Lesley Delivers Run tonight noticed that there were significantly less people in need of a sandwich. Many members of Lesley Delivers thought that it might be due to people staying at Occupy Boston. The Occupy Boston protest is a safe place where the hungry and homeless can get access to food, shelter and a medicine tent. Many also feel that someone who is homeless may feel more connected to the Occupy Boston cause. We hope that everyone who we usually see in Harvard Square is safe and hopefully has a nice place to sleep.

We also discussed when it is appropriate to ask someone if they want a sandwich. As Ashley and I went down the alley near Border Café we passed a man who we were not sure was homeless. Ashley thought he wasn’t because he was wearing nice clothes; whereas I thought he was because he had long beard and messy hair. This sparked a conversation about how we tend to judge people to be homeless based on superficial stereotypes about appearances. It could be that someone is homeless and we cannot tell while someone may appear homeless who lives comfortably in a home. The group concluded that it is best to ask and offend someone than it is to let someone go hungry.

Thanks to everyone who came out to night! We realize that it is midterm time and everyone is probably busy with papers and exams. We appreciate your time!

-Claire

Getting Into the Swing of Things!

2011-10-14T13:29:00.000-07:00

Despite the semester kicking up with papers and midterms, we had about 17 students show up on Tuesday night, smiling and ready to go. Some of the new faces are becoming more familiar, but we're still getting new ones every week, which is fantastic. We met as usual and made sandwiches, and we also got a generous donation of fresh vegetables from a student interning at City Sprouts. A few students took on the challenge of washing and cutting the vegetables, and in no time we had salad-in-a-bag! These vegetables will last us for the next few runs because she gave us so much, which we are grateful for. We also put granola bars and juice boxes in the bags with the sandwiches, which is another great addition and will also be included every week from here on out.

When we got to the church and split into two groups so we could start on our separate routes, we encountered something that doesn't come up often. One of the younger guys who we've been giving sandwiches to for the past couple of weeks was in the middle of the sidewalk yelling at and kicking his dog. This went on for longer than it should have, and many of us just stood there frozen and staring, not knowing what to do. We handled it as best we could, and after the run Ashley made a great point that "our safety is our number one priority." Ashley reassured everyone in the group that this doesn't usually happen, but we need to be prepared if it arises again. Basically, the groups just need to remove themselves from situations such as these so we can stay safe. After the incident, we went about the rest of our route, and we were able to give him a sandwich on our way back. He was appreciative of it, and so were the other guys he was sitting with.

Seeing so many young people out on our run made me appreciate what I have, and I'm sure the other students got that too. I realize that I take for granted the fact that I never go hungry, and I never question where I'm getting my next meal from. What prompted these thoughts for me was when I gave one of the guys a sandwich and he said "Thanks, I'm gonna eat this tomorrow. I try to eat as little as possible because I never know when I'm gonna have food." That's really sticking with me. It makes me so grateful for everything that I have, and it warms my heart that we can provide some food for those in need.

-Theresa

A New Beginning

2011-10-05T08:29:00.000-07:00

This semester for Lesley Delivers has shown great dedication and excitement already. Our first run of the semester last week had about 35 students involved, handing out peanut butter and jelly sandwiches generously donated by Flour Bakery and Cafe. The number of students that came out for this run was amazing, something that Lesley Delivers has not seen in quite a while! Having new faces in our group was refreshing, and it was clear that the experience was eye-opening for the new members of the Lesley community. New ideas were suggested and shared with the group, including extending routes to further places in Cambridge like Central Square and Porter Square. The returning members were grateful for some fresh perspectives to liven up our Lesley Delivers experience and make it something new this year. We also have sophomores and a junior, Theresa Powers, Claire Enderson, and Ginny Trufan, who have stepped up as role models and leaders for the new students, and have led by example of how to complete a Lesley Delivers run. As students who grew to understand the values of Lesley University through this program, returners were excited to see new students grow familiar with the idea of connecting with members in the community and erasing stereotypes of people who are hungry and homeless. Hearing new students say, "Wow, that man was really nice!" and see them become exposed to the harsh realities of living without a home or food shows just how much of an impact Lesley Delivers has on new students.

Last night, despite the rain and colder weather, we had about 17 students show up again! Some were returners from last week, and some were new faces in the crowd. We took part in actually making the sandwiches this week, rather than packing up the meals like last week. This smaller group allowed for more people to participate in handing out sandwiches and feel engaged in the program. I noticed a lot more students stepping up and personally offering the sandwiches to individuals, which made me feel really good! This small step shows that we are gaining confidence in our ability to cross that threshold and make a connection. Once the ice is broken, relationships among us and those we serve can develop and strengthen our community.

As Theresa and I walked to meet up with the group, we noticed a young person sitting with a sleeping bag along a street that isn't typically part of a LD route. We altered our route at the end of the night to accommodate for this person and make sure that they, too, received a sandwich. I was happy we did this, because it showed that we are not just falling into a routine and getting by with what we need to do. We are consistently looking for ways to improve and reach a higher potential of the amount of people we can reach in one night.

Overall, Ashley and I are very excited with the way things are going with Lesley Delivers this semester. The number of students showing up with excitement and motivation is encouraging, and it just goes to show how much potential a group of people has when they come together to make a difference. I'm looking forward to see how Lesley Delivers develops this semester and is changed for the better by the new batch of members we are gaining.

-Elissa May

You Say Goodbye, I Say Hello

2011-05-04T07:23:00.000-07:00

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

Walk for Hunger

2011-05-03T06:50:00.000-07:00

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

Our Society

2011-03-31T14:19:00.000-07:00

Tonight was the 3rd consecutive night of Lesley Delivers as a part of Hunger & Homelessness week. We’ve had an impressive attendance count this week and it is really exciting to see so many students expressing interest in the club’s mission. The energy levels have been high, and it is clear that the impact of the experiences this week has been strong.
Last night, two groups set out in Harvard Square with 30 sandwiches to deliver. The run itself, while effective and eye-opening for most, was not anything out of the ordinary- that is, until the end of the run, as both groups witnessed an event as they made their way to the meeting spot. A gentleman who was standing outside of a store with a change-cup was being openly and publicly scolded by a police officer to leave the area. In a tone that was called “aggressive” and “scary” by multiple students in the group, the police officer did not seem to show any signs of sympathy for this individual, and was not concerned that he may have been humiliating him.
As I saw the event unfold, I had the impulse to express to the officer that what he was doing was not necessary; I, along with the rest of my group, was not bothered by the presence of this man. There was such a contrast at that point: the officer, concerned with getting this man to go away because he believed that the community and store owners would not want him there, and a group of students, on a mission to help the same individual by giving him a meal. If the police officer was scolding him for our sake, he was not helping us in any way. Why did we have more of a right to be present in the area than this man? We didn’t do anything to earn this right. It seemed so incredible that the officer, an individual who serves the community and is cognizant of the rights of citizens, can treat another citizen with such hostility. Wasn’t it clear to him that there may have not been another safe place for this person to go?
What is clear to me now is that the police officer was probably helping others in the community by doing this. The store probably enacted a “no loitering” policy which the police officers are expected to enforce. The man asking for change was probably hindering business at the store because people in the community were not entering the store when he was there. The problem is not with the police officer; the problem is that in our society, not everyone views the man who is homeless as just another citizen. They view him as dangerous, scary, as someone who they would want to avoid if they can when going shopping in the square. It is not right to be angry at the police officer in this situation, but to be impassioned to change the system. Eyes need to be opened that “homeless” is not synonymous with “drug addicted,” “a thief,” or “violent.” Because of the stigma in our society, homeless is not seen for what it really is. Individuals are blamed and misunderstood. Help is not given. In addition to delivering sandwiches, we need to deliver empathy and understanding so that our community realizes that we are all humans first, and deserve the right to be treated as such.

-Elissa

Welcome Ashley!

2011-02-24T07:41:00.000-08:00

Last week, was our first run of the semester and we did another this past Tuesday. Both nights, there weren’t large numbers of people, but there were enough to effect the new people we had in our groups. This week we welcomed a new member to our leader ship team – Ashley! She will be our Treasurer and help lead groups when we are in Harvard Square. We are very excited that she is part of the Lesley Delivers team!
Although it was very cold the past two weeks, we did see some people and we got a chance to talk to them. The different ways people chose to keep warm struck many people in our group. A couple sharing a sleeping bag prompted the “What if that were me” question, and although it was not brought up in debrief, I know that many of our members think about that. It has been a topic of this blog many a time – and I think that is one of the many reasons why people continue to come out with us.
On that same trip, we can across a man who wouldn’t take a sandwich because he already had some food that he was saving. He didn’t want to “waste” what we were giving him. We talked later about how that action (which we have also come across multiple times) proves the existence of a community among the people who stay on the streets. There are some that get more than others, and they always direct us to the ones that have less. They know that some have no food, while they might have an extra granola bar so they have us find those without. It brings us comfort to know that they are helping each other in these times of need.

Last Run of 2010

2010-12-15T06:51:00.000-08:00

Tonight was our last run of the semester. Along with sandwiches, we handed out coats that were donated through the Coat Drive sponsored by the LU Softball team. These were very much appreciated; we encountered many groups of people who showed gratitude for these coats as it was one of the colder nights we’ve had this season. There were relatively few people in the usual areas of Harvard Square; however one individual pointed us in the direction of a place where we were sure to find another community of people. Once we got to the area he directed us to, we noticed that there were a lot of belongings and several people we had never met before. They also graciously accepted the coats and were eager to find out why we were out giving them away and what “religious group” we were affiliated with. They seemed to have a sense of dependability on one another; one man said his girlfriend was out to get water and he would hold the coat for her. He also mentioned that he knew of others who would want a coat, and he would be able to find owners for them. The group stuck together. When they were forced to leave the street of a different area, they worked together to bring their things to a new place where they’d be left alone. As we concluded the night, we realized we had a few more oranges left in the bag. As one of us suggested we bring the oranges to the group of people we had previously met, our entire group was enthusiastic to join. When we got back to this place, the people we had met shook our hands again and were grateful for the fruit.

I didn’t mention this earlier, but on the way to and from the sandwich deliveries, our group broke out into Holiday caroling. We were clearly all in the Holiday spirit, and even though it didn’t seem relative at the time, I can see how Lesley Delivers and the Holidays go hand in hand. Tonight was all about giving, but we weren’t the only ones to give. Before we even got to Harvard Square, people we passed would smile at us and join in on the songs we sang. We may not have given them anything, but at least we gave them the chance to smile at the end of their day. During the run, even though we handed out sandwiches and an extra layer to many people, I think we were more on the receiving end. When one group interacted with an individual who accepted a sandwich, he made a comment to make everyone in the group laugh. He was happy about this, and quietly said that as long as he made them smile, that’s all that mattered. In the other group, I gained a lot from that one brief conversation with the person in the new community. He was so grateful for us taking an hour out of our day to bring them sandwiches and coats. He really lifted my spirits by making us feel like the most important people in the world, when really, we were only doing what we knew was right. It was a great end to a very successful Lesley Delivers, and with the Holidays upon us, we really celebrated the act of giving.
-Elissa

The Lucky Ones

2010-12-13T20:11:00.001-08:00

Last week, our run was one of the smallest, but one of the most profound we have had this semester. Although it was cold, we saw many different people. One of the biggest things we noticed was the sense of community that we stumbled upon in the Coop. As a few of us walked in to talk to two of the people sitting there, we noticed that there were a lot more belongings than there were people. The woman talking to us began to tell us that all of the food they get they save until everyone is there and then they put it in the middle and share it. She told us this as she was holding a pizza box to her body for warmth and smiling at the fact that a group “of young people like [us]” had come a little bit ago and brought them freshly baked Tollhouse cookies. She was one of the most cheerful women I have met during these runs, and the hope she gave me - I know she passes on to every person she shares her food with.
Another girl that we met struck me personally. She was sitting outside of CVS and we passed her once starting our run and then again heading back to the debrief. The first time we handed her a sandwich, exchanged a few words and continued on. She seemed friendly, but also very absorbed in the book she was reading and trying to keep warm. On our way back, we gave her a second sandwich and stopped to talk with her for a few seconds longer. The first thing I noticed was that she was my age, the second was that the book she was reading was a textbook. She was a student, just like me, trying to get her education so that she could make something of herself.
These are two things we have never really seen during our runs: a community of people that come together to keep each other warm and share food mixed with good humor, and a student who is just like the rest of us. People throw around the word lucky a lot in everyday life, but in both of these cases I think it takes on its true meaning. Those people have a support system, they have others to lean on and to gain strength from. The girl we met is going to school. She’s getting an education, and maybe someday she will be able to help others to get out of the situation she was once in. And then there’s us. We were the lucky ones – because we were the ones that got to take away the lessons that these Harvard Square prophets had to give.

Community

2010-12-01T15:15:00.001-08:00

During the run tonight, our group witnessed an extraordinary sense of community. While there are usually many instances of individuals sitting alone in Harvard Square, tonight we saw mostly groups of people, chatting, helping and sharing with one another. Although it was unfortunate and very saddening to see the amount of people we saw tonight, we were somewhat grateful to know that they provided support for one another. Their care for each other showed particularly at one moment, when a woman would give sandwiches up to others before taking one for herself. She took on a motherly role with this group, and made sure that everyone had a meal and was satisfied before she fulfilled her own needs. It is remarkable to think that even in the situations where food and shelter and other necessities are so scarce, people still look out for one another before themselves. I hope that because the people we delivered sandwiches to tonight were among other peers and had support; they were a bit more positive and hopeful than they would be if they had been alone. Community is so important to a person’s sense of security, because no matter what situation a person is in, they have a support network they can rely on for strength, safety, and belonging. This sense of belonging and shared experience seems as though it would be significant in helping a person to cope with the troubles they are dealt.
-Elissa

What We Have

2010-11-19T08:51:00.000-08:00

By Elissa
A small group of us went into Harvard Square tonight. Upon reaching the “pit,” we realized there were far more people than we had sandwiches, and every person we offered a sandwich to accepted it. Many of the people in this area were young, no older than us in some cases. They were thankful for what sandwiches we did have, and even though they were outside on a cold night, they were in good spirits. They were friendly and even joked around with us a bit as we said goodbye. It makes me think about how many times a day I wish I was doing something else, or complain about very trivial inconveniences throughout my day. Just one hour earlier, before the run, I had very casually complained about the work I had for class. It wasn’t until I handed a PB&J to someone in the pit that I realized what I had done. In the big scheme of things, most of the people we witnessed tonight are in far more dire situations than I have ever been in. To be without a home is to be without the feeling of security we rely on, but take for granted, everyday. To not have a warm bed to sleep in at night is to not be able to put one day to rest and start anew the next morning. The constant stress of not having a home does not go away at night and return in the morning. It is not something they can forget for a little while, like we may forget about an assignment that is stressing us out or a rocky friendship. It is something that they must always be aware of. To have this kind of trouble but still be able to say “Thanks! You have a good night, too,” with a smile on their faces is something I can’t even fathom. Although I don’t know the precise circumstances of the people we gave sandwiches to tonight, whether they are homeless or not, to even have to accept a sandwich or meal from a stranger because other means of eating aren’t available is troublesome in itself, and very scary for some college students to imagine. The fact that I am in college an am earning an education is reason in itself to think carefully before I complain about something I have to do. The lesson I learn time and time again, and have to continually remind myself of, is that the things I have and the opportunities available to me are privileges, and to forget how special they are is to take life for granted.

A Blog That's a Long Time Coming

2010-11-10T14:49:00.001-08:00

A smile is something we all take for granted. It is an act between two human beings that makes us feel like we mean something on this earth. Given this definition, it is hard to think about going a day or longer without smiling. You might shrug and say that it doesn’t really matter to you either way, but try going a day without getting smiled at or smiling at anyone. It might be harder than you think. This is something we touched on last night at our debrief after our run. I know there have been blogs about how the people we serve are, in fact, people. I know we have written about how we need to try to make them actually feel like people. But honestly, it is worth repeating. We all have luxuries that we don’t think of as such. We have people we talk to on a daily basis, we have people we can lean on (whether they be friends, family, or a combination of both), and we all receive at least one hug and more smiles than we can count in a day. What if all of that went away? What if you didn’t have someone to get a hug from when you are upset, or to tell you everything is going to be okay?
The people we serve have talked to us, we’ve read their signs, we’ve handed them a simple paper bag with very basic food in them. But unfortunately, that might be the most interaction they get all day. Elissa, one of the leaders, told us about a sign she saw that one man was holding that said something to the effect of “please just smile”. That simple act, that one muscle movement, will give them a little bit of hope. Someone noticed them. Someone acknowledged that they are there, that they are human.

So please. Just smile.

"How are you going to change the world?"

2010-10-12T20:56:00.001-07:00

This was written by Elissa May, one of the leaders and the secretary of Lesley Delivers. She and Merrie Rothstein led the run tonight.

Tonight was an interesting night for both groups on the sandwich runs. A lot of communication was made between the students and the people in Harvard Square, which opened our eyes to things that we may not see from day to day. In one instance, a man that accepted a sandwich wanted to know more about our plans for the future, and responded to our goals of becoming Human Service workers and teachers in ways we did not expect. From seeing the lack of change that has occurred throughout the years in society and the social issues involving homelessness and poverty that are still very much prevalent in any community, this man had grown pessimistic about the future. He challenged us in ways we are not used to, asking us questions like, “How are you going to change the world?” This experience left us all a little unsure of ourselves and our futures, but it was a wake up call in the sense that it made us reflect on what we wanted to do for the world, and how in just a few short years of college, it will be our time to make our change.
After every sandwich run, it’s important to reflect on how we could improve our action and what could make our work a little more meaningful. The group has a lot of ideas of ways we can cater more to the needs of the people we serve, and provide them with different meals other than peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. We sometimes receive responses to the PB&J sandwiches that suggest that the population would prefer something different, such as a ham and cheese sandwich, or something with less sugar. This is feedback that is useful for us to alter and change our program to make it the most useful and beneficial to those we serve. It is our hope that with some planning and reexamining of the club’s process, we can create changes that help us to make the most positive impact in our community.

We're Back!!

2010-10-03T17:22:00.000-07:00

Lesley Delivers has started up again! Last week we had our first successful run of the year, with 15 people going out to help make and deliver sandwiches. We had so many new people it was wonderful. We saw many people in Harvard Square we had never seen before, and they were all completely kind and thankful for what we were doing. The experience affected some of the new people in different ways. Some got very emotional as they really saw, for the first time, the faces of hunger and homelessness. Some shared hugs with some of the people receiving sandwiches. In our debrief we talked about how everyone felt, and everyone agreed that they had gained something from what they had just done. Watching some of the freshmen talking about how they had never realized how personal it could be and how they wanted to do it again reminded me why I started doing this in the first place. This is all about connection. You get something every time you serve. You make a connection with another human being, someone who could be just like you only took a different path in life. You gain a better understanding of life through doing things like Lesley Delivers, and I truly hope that as the year goes on we have more runs like our first of the year.

Last Run before Summer

2010-05-11T12:15:00.000-07:00

This past week we had our last Lesley Delivers run of the semester. We did make it more fun and informative by adding a Sleep Out in the quad. First we all came together and made sandwich bags for the run. We had a larger group this time, therefore we were able to split up into three groups. The run went smoothly and we saw a lot of people out. There were new people in the run that got to experience interacting with the people in Harvard Sq. for the first time. Someone had said that this was a great experience for her because normally after she gets out of work she feels unsafe walking alone because of the stereotypes of what it means to be hungry and/or homeless. She said that because she came on the run that she was able to see them as people and not something that society projects on to them.
After the run we all came back and got ready for a night on the quad. We had blankets on the ground and we had sleeping bags. We wanted to experience a night of being without the basics of a bed and a roof. We also wanted to create awareness within the community. We had signs up so that whenever someone walked by while we were sleeping they would know what we were doing. It made a point that no matter what your age or situation, you could still be hit by homelessness and/or hunger. As we go into the summer and the next semester of school in the fall, we need to remember that. So next time you pass someone by on the street, smile. Acknowledge the fact that we are all human and that every human needs contact. Try and be that little bit of light that can get someone through the day.

Stereotypes

2010-05-03T17:18:00.000-07:00

This past week we had a run that was very eventful. We had a big group that came out, which means more and more people are hearing about us and want to get involved!
The main thing that happened that night occurred at the Tannery. Two different groups went there at separate times, and both noticed the police presence. The first group went down and began to talk with the men there. However, an argument broke out between them and they weren’t really paying attention to the group. The argument was about one of the men who was very obviously intoxicated and was trying to push alcohol on others. The men who usually stayed at the Tannery didn’t want him there because he was attracting attention and making them look bad. By the time the group left, a police officer had come over. The second group saw much of the same thing when they went.
We talked about this in the debrief. It was a way of seeing the stereotypes of what it means to be homeless or hungry broken a little. Just because there was one man who was acting in that way, doesn’t mean the others are. In fact, he was shunned by all of the people around him. There is a community there, and they don’t want someone coming in and making their community into something that is negative. They just want to live their lives the best way they can. And the one thing that stuck with me was, even amid the fighting over this man, we still got thank yous and felt the gratitude from the people who did take the sandwiches. We all need to remember to look at people has human beings, not as what society tells us they are supposed to be.

Comfort

2010-04-20T21:37:00.000-07:00

Tonight we talked about comfort levels. One group experienced a man who came up to them at the end of their run and began to sing to them. The only thing is, he moved very close to some of the people in the group and it might have made them feel uncomfortable. They were faced with the daunting question of “What do we do?”. Luckily, the man just sang for a few seconds and then they were able to walk away. But it was still hard, even in the debrief, to come up with a truly good way to deal with someone crossing into your comfort zone. The other group had the opposite experience. There is a man that has become a familiar face on one of the routes and we have started to talk to him regularly. People feel comfortable going down to him and having a conversation with him. Tonight he got excited that we had juice, but at the same time he made sure that we left some for the people who were sleeping around him. I know that it must have taken him a while before he was truly comfortable talking to us with the ease that he does.
It just goes to show you that sometimes you have to slowly get used to a person (or people) in order to trust them. Comfort is something that cannot be thrown at you. When out on the streets, one can imagine the difficulty they must have with finding trust and comfort in other people. Belief in the kindness of the human nature is all they have, and it’s something that we can help kindle.

Introducing... Erika and Elissa!

2010-04-19T19:09:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the late post everyone! I still wanted to put up a post to talk about last week’s run even though we have another run tomorrow. Last week we had our two leaders lead the program for the first time and I couldn’t be more proud of them. Elissa May (EMay) ran the programming (reading off the guidelines and directing people what to do while putting the bags together, and Erika Bareiss helped her facilitate. They were the ones that led the groups out into Harvard Square.
While on the groups there was a conversation that came up about the Tannery. The way that it is set up is that we have to go down a set of stairs to get to the people below. On that night we went down and there were two men, one of whom we see sometimes. The other man was one we had never seen before. They were both really friendly and the new man said to us something like “You don’t have to worry about anything girls! You’re safe with me!”. Of course, most (if not all) of us were now comfortable going down there. Once we left we talked about how he had acted. We thought that he seemed like he wanted to seem “normal” almost as if he didn’t belong there. I pointed out stairs in the Tannery and how they could be seen as a metaphor. We had to be able to come down to them. To some people that may be seen as going down to their level, or rejecting our sense of normalcy in order to give what we can. And honestly, I am okay with taking that on. The people in my group agreed with me when saying that we have now become comfortable with it. Showing people that it is okay to be equal is something that we aim to do. If that means that we go down those stairs to hold a conversation and give a smile with a sandwich, then we will keep doing it.

Three Events in a Week

2010-04-10T22:19:00.001-07:00

This week was an amazing week for Lesley Delivers. On Monday a group of students from a local elementary school came to visit and learn about what we do. We got to make sandwiches for the next nights run with them, and talk about what homelessness is. We were so impressed with how articulate and well versed in the situation they were. Hanging out with them made our day, and they have had a lasting impression on us. They talked about how they wanted to do more to help people, and they talked about different ways to bring service to their school. We thank them so much for giving Lesley Delivers peanut butter and jelly and other donations. They were true inspirations and we would welcome them back anytime.
The next nights run went well, a man that doesn’t really talk to us talked to a group. Even though he didn’t take anything, it was still great that he felt comfortable enough to make that connection with us. We didn’t see that many people out, which (as stated many times before) could be a great thing because that might mean that they have roofs over their heads.
Another thing I wanted to address is a quick run that a friend and I did this past weekend. On Easter, two of us went on an impromptu run with some of the extra sandwiches we had left over. We also put some chocolate and hand wipes in the bags. The one thing we didn’t have was juice. We saw so many people out, including a few people who looked to be about our age. All of the people we encountered asked for juice. It made us feel terrible that we didn’t have any. I will be the first to admit that I wanted to go into a store and buy some just so that I could go back. But my friend reminded me that we were giving already, and that the bags we were handing out were going very much appreciated. The kids that came to visit had the same feeling when they realized that we deliver the sandwiches late at night and that they weren’t going to be able to come. They wanted so badly to be able to give the sandwiches they made to people in need. But once we talked to them about how big of a help they were already, they were contented to continue their sticky job of peanut butter and jellying. Sometimes we have to remember that we need to do what we can, and not over extend ourselves to the point where we give more than we can. We all have moments were we wish we could do more, but we need to step back and know that we are already giving and that says something in itself.

Just Another Rainy Tuesday?

2010-03-30T20:45:00.001-07:00

It’s a humbling feeling to go out on a night like tonight, while it is pouring out, to try and give out sandwiches. This is how one person in our group put it in our debrief tonight. As we huddled under the shelter of the Coop, we realized that we didn’t see that many people out tonight (which is amazing) and that the people we did see looked at us in a certain way. When we do guidelines right before the run, we always try to say “Don’t Pity” – that is try not to show it to the people we are talking to. One group walked up to a man standing just inside the cover of the Harvard T Station to give him some sandwiches. This man starred at us with a mixture of thanks and question. He looked at us because we were soaking wet, but still crazy enough to walk around with bags of food. Another man, who we see a lot, was out again tonight. This time, upon seeing us, he didn’t raise his head a start talking to us. But why should he? He was stuck outside in the cold rain, and nothing was going to change about that tonight. I hope that it does change soon for him, but tonight I don’t doubt for a minute that I would be acting the same way. Just walking around for half an hour makes clothes stick to skin, and people grumpy. Imagine having to sit outside in that all night. People don’t want to imagine it because it’s frightening. But it is very, very real.

Hunger and Homelessness Week

2010-03-26T21:10:00.001-07:00

This past week was Hunger and Homelessness here at Lesley University, and as a result Lesley Delivers went on three sandwich runs in a row: Tuesday-Thursday. Collectively we had over 30 people come out and participate in the runs. The reason why I didn’t write a blog for each night is because I wanted to be able to speak about the week as a whole and all the things that were done, discussed, and learned.
This week exposed students and staff alike to issues surrounding poverty and the ways we can make a difference and help to end it. We experienced community through the making sandwiches for Lesley Delivers at the Peanut Butter Jam. It combined music, friends (new and old), the mess of peanut butter and jelly, and facts about hunger and homelessness to create an atmosphere for giving. Last night there was a Faces of Homelessness Panel with speakers from the National Coalition for the Homeless. We were given the chance to hear real life stories from people who had been homeless at one point in their lives, or who were still struggling with it. This made it even more real for us when we went out on the sandwich run.
People who had never been on a run before came out and had experiences that made them want to return. As our groups grew, so did the awareness of what Lesley Delivers does. We are making connections. These people who are sitting in the doorways or hiding under blankets in front of a store are just that – people. They are human beings. We met them up close and personal in the panel, we looked into their eyes as we gave them sandwiches. We learned that it doesn’t take much in these times to become poverty stricken or homeless. I know that I have come to the definite realization that no matter what I have done in my life that could still happen to me. Homelessness is real. It is not a myth or something that happens only to those who don’t care about their lives. The two men and the one woman talking in the panel talked about what they lost and they described it like this: Yes, they lost their house and whatever other material things that put them on the streets or in shelters. However, they lost something else as well – their dignity. They became invisible to people walking by. They didn’t get the curtsy of a smile in the morning, a kind word or acknowledgement. They became something that was feared and ignored.
This is not how it should be. Aside from an overarching search for the end of homelessness, we all need to try to bring them back to humanhood. We need to make them feel that connection again. If someone on the street talks to you, says Good Morning, respond. We all hate being ignored, but imagine if that was your life. Day after day of nothing but mothers pulling their children away from you, looks that go through you, and turned heads when you talk in someone’s direction is enough to break anyone. These people are not part of a door frame, nor are they scum that need to be kicked aside. The day we all learn that and extend a hand or a word is the day this problem will begin to end. Bring awareness and a smile with you every day. Wear kindness on your sleeves and hold caring words on your tongue. This is what Hunger and Homelessness Week has given me. What has it given you?

Equality of Giving

2010-03-17T21:46:00.001-07:00

On tonight’s run the two groups that went out didn’t really see anyone. This could be a combination of the fact that it is St. Patrick’s Day and that it is one of the first warm nights of the season. We all hope that people found some place safe to stay for the night. Because nothing much happened tonight, I want to take this opportunity to talk about a trip that a group of Lesley Students took over the spring break. We went on Alternative Spring Break and worked with Habitat for Humanity in South Carolina, North Carolina, and New Jersey. I was lucky enough to be on a trip to Spartanburg, South Carolina. There were a few defining moments for me that created a theme for my trip. This theme was the equality in giving.
The first moment was when we were invited to eat lunch at a local soup kitchen. The experience we had was not the one that we were expecting. Instead of standing in line we were led through the back and seated at a special table with flowers. Instead of letting us get our own food, the volunteers brought it to us. We stayed in one group and it was obvious that we were being treated in a special manner. When we talked about it later, a lot of us (myself included) were disappointed about not getting the “real experience”. But then we talked about it more in terms of the community we were let into. We were helping to build a house in their community – we were giving to them. They wanted to find a way to give back and that lunch was their way of doing so.
The second time was when the whole group was in a van, and we were lost. We stopped at a gas station and Anne, our adult leader, got out and asked for directions. The woman she got directions from was one of those people we met who exuded southern hospitality. She even came over to our van and struck up a conversation with Anne. During this conversation, the woman mentioned that she and her kids were hungry but couldn’t get anything to eat. At this point Anne said, “Well, alright. Come on lets get you some food” and hopped out of the van. There was hugging and more kind words exchanged before Anne got back in the van and told us she was going to try not to cry. It is people like Anne that make me believe that there are more people out there who want to help. People who want to make a difference in at least one persons life. This makes me want to push Lesley Delivers to make more of a difference each week.

...Can't Be Choosers? False.

2010-03-02T20:43:00.001-08:00

Hey All!
Tonight we had nine people come out and help us make sandwiches and six people go on the run. We love any help, even if you can’t stay for the whole run. Every little bit helps. We split up into two groups; one group didn’t see that many people but the other saw the same large group that was there last week. Both groups had a similar experience with people who asked what kind of sandwiches we had. We always make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and sometimes people just don’t like those – and that’s okay. Both groups had people joking about how picky they are. One man said something like “Well they say beggars can’t be choosers… but they can!”. In the large group we saw a few men didn’t want some things that were in the bags but did want others, this is a time where we hand out the bags and hope that whatever they don’t want, their friends will eat. We talked about how some people just don’t want to ask for anything, but they will hope that you see them and just give. It’s about pride (sometimes), which I completely understand. Sometimes we just have to learn how to watch for body language and hope for the best. Until next week – if you are going on Spring Break have a safe and fun one!

Volleyball Run

2010-02-23T19:51:00.000-08:00

Hi, I'm Addie and I'm one of the student leaders for Lesley Delivers, and I'm going to share with you my experience with Lesley Delivers this evening...

Tonight we were joined by the women's volleyball team for our sandwich run! We were really excited to be able to share Lesley Delivers with some new faces. The 9 of us split into two groups and at first we had very different trips. My group headed past Au Bon Pain, but we didn't see a single person. I am always so very torn in situations like this- I want to share the experience of Lesley Delivers with new people, and that definitely involves meeting some of the people we usually see; however, I can't help but hope that if I didn't see them tonight, maybe it's because they had a bed to sleep in somewhere.

While we weren't seeing anyone, we were having some great conversations about some of the innate inequalities and unfair aspects of our lives, and especially life in Cambridge. That's when I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket. Like a good Lesley Delivers participant (and especially student leader) I was not going to look at it, but something told me to just take a glance. It was Jillian, one of the co-presidents, who was leading the other group. While we don't usually use our phones, this was important because the other group had run into so many people that they were already out of sandwiches, and wanted us to bring any extras that we had.

We headed back to Harvard Square armed with plenty of leftover sandwiches. When we got to the Tannery there were literally 15 people at the bottom of the stairs. Some of them were quite gracious and took sandwiches eagerly, but others were asking for blankets and some other things that we obviously didn't have. As always these situations are difficult for me, I want to take off my own coat and give it to them, or run home and get a blanket, or at the very least had them a $20 bill. But my many experiences with Lesley Delivers have taught me the value of what we are doing- handing out sandwiches. It's not everything, but it's enough that even if I can't give these people everything they ask for, everything they need, or even everything they deserve, I still walk away feeling fulfilled. Well, as fulfilled as possible when there are still people living on the streets.

Anyway, those are my thoughts after tonight's run. I really can't thank the volleyball team enough for their sensitivity and enthusiasm. They asked tons of great questions and I hope I really do see the faces of the people who said they would be back on future trips!

Can't wait for next Tuesday!

Beginning of the Second Semester!

2010-02-16T22:17:00.001-08:00

Tonight was our first Lesley Delivers run of the second semester! Because of the snow there were only four of us, however it was still a good run and every little bit helps. Because it was cold we debated whether or not we would see anyone out, we even hoped that we wouldn’t. But we did, and they were all very grateful to be getting a little food that might give them a little warmth. We talked to a man who a lot of us have become familiar with and he told us that he and his wife had been talking about us. They would have conversations about when they thought we would be coming back from break and when they would get to talk to us again. This brought the impact we were making, even if on two people, to light a little for us. Once we did a lap around Harvard Square we gave our extra sandwiches to those we had seen so that they had some more and left a few in a semi-dry spot. As we were walking back we started talking about giving. It seemed that we had all been in some sort of situation where the people we had given to (food, time, etc.) wanted to give back to us. Whether it was a man you had given food to offering you a slice of a free pizza he was given, or a little girl giving a well loved stuffed toy to you because you spent time with her – our question was do you take it? Our answer was this: These people want to give back to you for all that you have done for them, they give what they can. What they don’t understand is that the whole time you have been with them, they have given you so much. They have given you hope and taught you things you maybe hadn’t known before. They made you think about what you would do and what you could to. They give you a smile and the truth. So because they don’t know they have given you all these things, they try to give you something that they can manage. We answered that you should take it, because this way they know that they have given you something. And maybe when they go to sleep that night, they can reflect on what they have done. Maybe even write it down – like we do.

Prince William Sleeping On The Streets For A Night

2009-12-22T09:37:00.000-08:00

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/eu_britain_prince_william

Last Run of the Semester

2009-12-20T17:34:00.001-08:00

A few weeks ago was the last Lesley Delivers run of the semester. This run was special because not only did we hand out bagged dinner, but we also went out with coats, blankets, and other winter accessories. These were all donated by people during out winter coat and accessory drive, and some of the blankets were donated by Lesley University’s Campus Activity Board. We didn’t see that many people out because of how cold it was. We talked about how that could be a good thing because the people we have become used to seeing may have found a warm place to sleep. We were able to leave the warm things in places that would only be found by those who were in need and looking for warmth. It felt good to know (even if we couldn’t personally hand coats out) that they were going to someone who needed them. It is important not only at this time of the year to think about warmth, giving, and caring. Treat every day, it doesn’t matter what season, as though it is the holidays. Give a little extra, show people that you care a little more than you normally would. You never know what is around the next corner, what the next day could bring. You never know when you could need some help, even if it ‘s just a smile, to get you through.
We hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year!

Selflessness

2009-11-17T22:02:00.001-08:00

Tonight we went on our last sandwich run before Thanksgiving break; we had 6 people come out and we made 24 bag dinners. It was the first night that it was truly cold out, so it wasn’t surprising that there weren’t a lot of people out to give the bags to. The people we did see were grateful and thanked us with what have become familiar smiles and words.
Within the group of people that came there were a lot of people who had come to Lesley Delivers before, some of them have been nervous on their first few times about going up to people and asking them if they wanted food. Tonight I saw a few who hung back before step up and want to do it. It proves that it is not only the people receiving the food that are receiving something, but the people who give as well.
There were three people in a place that we normally stop that one group gave some dinners to, and then on the way back the other group stopped by. At this point the number had grown to six people laying there so, having extra sandwiches, they offered to the people who just got there and the people who were already there. One of the men who was just settling down was very sweet and shy, but talked to us about what we were doing and how cold it was. When we asked him if he wanted a bag, he made sure that we gave one to everyone else before he took one – even though some people there already had two. There were a few that he referred to by their first names and acted like he was close to them. Sometimes we feel the need to be selfless in the face of difficulty. Sometimes we focus so much on the people we care about that we forget ourselves. We forget our basic needs because to us, our friends and family are all that we really do need.

Warmth

2009-11-11T13:44:00.001-08:00

Last night Row House came out with us for the run. We had 20 people came out and made 26 bagged dinners. The past few runs we have had a great selection of food to put in the bags because of the donations from the peanut butter and jelly drive. While on the run a group came across a man that we normally see every time. Usually he is with his wife, but last night he was alone. He began to talk with the group about what Lesley Delivers does. He told us that most people out in Harvard Square who are sleeping outside need blankets and asked us if that is something we do. He told us that he usually spends the money he gets on the street on blankets for the other people he sees. This man is truly an inspiration to us. Even though he and his wife are in the same position, he wants to try and better the lives of others.
This is a perfect time to mention that Lesley Deliver and the Lesley University Softball team are sponsoring our 2nd Annual Winter Coat and Accessories Drive. We are looking for an old coats, sweaters/ sweatshirts, blankets, scarves, hats, and gloves that are in good condition to donate to local Cambridge shelters.
If we can learn anything from the man we met last night, it is that helping other stay warm (and helping others in general) can also help you and warm your heart – sometimes that’s the only thing you need to keep warm.

Interest

2009-11-11T12:56:00.000-08:00

Lesley Delivers and the Class of 2011 paired up last week to do a sandwich run. We had 14 people come out and made 21 bags of food. We saw a lot of people out, which very well could have been because of the weather. We saw the two men who are usually up on the stairs again, but this time was different from the past few times. This time, when some of us went up the stairs they came out from underneath their tarps and blankets and talked with us. It was a happy moment to know that we had made yet another connection and we were able to talk to them about what we do.
We are really glad that more groups and dorms on campus are becoming interested in Lesley Delivers. Collaborating with these groups helps raise awareness and brings people closer together.
We had our first Peanut Butter and Jelly Drive last week, and so many people donated! We received 18 jars of peanut butter and 15 jars of jelly along with many other things to make the runs better. We want to thank everyone for their kindness!

Relationships

2009-10-28T18:44:00.001-07:00

Last night we did a run with nine people that was sponsored by Wendell House on campus. We made 21 bags of food to give out. This time we split up into two groups and covered more space. The main thing we noticed about this run is how many times it was pointed out that there were familiar faces. As we walked by one spot that we always see people in, a man sat up and smiled at us. “It’s good to see you again!” was what we were greeted with. He showed his gratitude and then said “I’ll see you next week!” I am happy with the fact that people are starting to realize that Lesley Delivers is here for them, even if it is raining (and I know Sarah and Jillian are too). As we begin to get familiar with people we begin to have a relationship with them, even if it is for those few fleeting seconds over a sandwich. My hope, besides the hope that they are able to get off the street, is that the people we saw a few weeks ago (and continue to see) who were scared become familiar with us too. Because maybe, if they know it is a Tuesday and someone is coming up the stairs to where they are trying to sleep, they will know it’s us. Maybe we will get a chance to see their full faces. Maybe we will get a chance to talk to them and show them that we want to move the next step in our relationship – actually handing them the bag.

Trust

2009-10-13T22:05:00.000-07:00

It’s that time of the week again! Tonight ten of us went out and we handed out 21 bags of food. It was the beginning of the cold nights here in Cambridge, and as we walked around Harvard Square we were reminded of that fact. A few points were brought up tonight at the end reflection. While walking around one group saw two men who were trying to stay warm up a flight of stairs leading to the door of an office building. As we got up the stairs to see if they wanted any food, we found one of them scared in the corner as to who was coming up the stairs. The other was under a tarp that was pulled tight around him. However, once they both heard the word “sandwich” they realized that they had nothing to worry about and that we weren’t trying to kick them out or invade their spot. We put ourselves in their shoes for a moment at reflection and talked about how we would feel the same if a strange person was coming into our apartments or dorms. That spot is what they have to call home for that moment, and they had every right to be scared. What would you do?
The other thing discussed was trust. There was a man that one group offered a bagged dinner and an explanation as to who was giving out the food - and he politely declined. They left one on a bench later on, thinking that someone would need it. While returning from their run, the next group came across the same man and offered him their last bag. He held up the bag that was left on the bench and told us he had one. We gave him a second one anyway. It seemed that once he had the time to think about who was giving the food and also the time on his own to inspect the bag, he was able to trust it and take another. Trust is a big part of life, and even bigger when you are taking food from strangers. When we are young we are taught to do the exact opposite. “Don’t talk to strangers”, “Don’t take food from strangers”, the list goes on. But we are never taught about the times when we have to trust in human kindness in order to get us from one day to the next.

Connection

2009-10-06T21:25:00.000-07:00

Tonight was our second Lesley Delivers sandwich run, and we ran it with a part of White Hall. We had a large group tonight and again split up into three groups that handed out 25 bags of food overall. Almost every bag was given directly to a person when usually we have to leave a bunch in strategic places around Harvard Square. Although it is great to make human connections through this basic action of giving, we have to remember that we don’t want to see that many people out there. This means that more people have no place to go when the night and the cold comes on. In our reflection after the run we talked about how grateful the people getting the food were. We saw some with signs saying “Hungry and poor” and some playing music to keep warm. Some were able to laugh with us, and a few were able to smile with us during the exchange of a simple brown paper bag. One group was stopped by a man who is frequently sitting on a bench alone. They stopped and talked with him for a few minutes after he called them over. He didn’t need food, he needed connection. Some people go through their days without a nod or a smile. Some have incredible life stories that will go unheard because no one is willing to listen. We should all take a moment to think about what we would do if we were not able to express ourselves to loved ones. What if we didn’t have them? Who would we have to share our burdens, and who would we have to share our laughter?

First Sandwich Run of the Semester

2009-10-01T20:39:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!
It’s a brand new year for Lesley Delivers, with brand new leadership! Sarah DiGiaimo has taken on the role of Lesley Delivers president, and Jillian Zingale and I have become co-leaders. You’ll be hearing from me every week about the runs that we go on and things that we do as an organization.
This past Tuesday was our first sandwich run of the semester, and it went really well. We had 16 people come to help make the 23 bagged dinners including Merrie Rothstein and Addie Price who also led a group through Harvard Square. Once we got into the square we split up to cover the different areas we have gone to before. There weren’t that many people out, but some of the groups did talk about what it was like to be on their first run. Some talked about how they were a little nervous to go up to someone, for fear of offending people. Which begs the question, who would you ask? What makes you think that someone needs a bagged dinner? We try to think about this every run we do, and usually end it with one such question.
I recently was in a conversation in a class where the professor said “We tend to help people that are more similar to us”. I want to leave you with the thought that ran through my mind when he said that. We are all similar because we are all human, we all have a heart in our chest and breath in our lungs. Therefore, shouldn’t we try to help each other no matter what?
See you next week!
Lyndsey

Humanity

2009-04-29T18:05:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone, Lyndsey again! The other night we went out on a run with Sarah DiGiaimo as the leader. It was a small group, and we didn’t see a lot of people out. We ended up leaving bags in different areas that we hoped they would be found.
I have a story that happened to me the other day that I wanted to share. I was walking through Harvard Square, in my own world, when I looked up and saw a man outside of CVS standing with a change cup. As I watched he turned into the flow of foot traffic, and got plowed into by another man who was not paying any attention and walking too fast for his own good. He knocked the man completely on the ground and then stopped. I thought that he was going to apologize and help him back up, but sadly, that was not the case. Instead this man proceeded to scream at the one on the ground about how he needed to get out of the way, and that what had just happened was entirely his fault, along with a stream of obscenities and terrible names. After he felt that his job of berating this man was done he stormed off, without lifting a finger to help him up. Once I got to him, I offered a hand and helped him off the ground. I apologized for what had just happened to him and then, as if by a knee jerk reaction, apologized for not having anything to give him. He turned to me, looked me straight in the eye and said, “No, you acknowledged me, and that’s enough.”
I almost feel no need to try and end this with some moral or lesson that people can take away from this incident. That man’s statement to me is just about as deep and as straight forward as it could possibly be. He is human, as we all are. If we don’t help each other out, than who will?

White Hall Sandwich Run

2009-04-18T07:56:00.000-07:00

Leader of the night: Lyndsey Carpenter

Last night we did a sandwich run with some residents of White Hall. There were only a few people out, but we left sandwiches in different places around Harvard Square. As we were finishing our loop, we noticed that one of the bags we had left had been taken. We can only hope that it was enjoyed. At the debrief we talked about how this was some of the participants first run. Some said that they had started the night thinking that they wouldnt be nervous, but in the end they were. We talked about how that is a normal feeling and that it was good that they knew that they could step back and just hold the bags. Because in the end, every little bit helps.

SouthCoastToday.com: Stang students camp in 'Cardboard Tent City' for homelessness

2009-03-31T18:54:00.001-07:00

SouthCoastToday.com: Stang students camp in 'Cardboard Tent City' for homelessness

Posted using ShareThis

Lesley Delivers with White 4

2009-03-29T09:50:00.001-07:00

Hey Everyone, it’s Lyndsey again! I led Lesley Delivers the other night as a part of Lesley’s Hunger and Homelessness week. We had a perfect mix of people who had come on sandwich runs before and people who hadn’t. It was amazing to see the amount of people that did come because the weather was less than kind and rained the whole time. We did see some people, but not many – which gives me hope that they had found somewhere warm and dry to sleep. We did however see a man sitting next to a strung up tarp and we gave him some sandwiches. As we began to leave we saw him walk over to the tarp and give all of the food to the people underneath it, leaving none for himself. We went back and made sure that he had some for himself before we left. This action made us think about how we are family and friends before we are anything else, including hungry. It is not just the people on the runs who are trying to provide a small bit of comfort and hope, but the people who are sitting with each other in their time of need.

Lesley Delivers with SSJ Part 2

2009-03-29T09:48:00.000-07:00

This blog was written by Merrie Rothstein, President of the Community Service Club, about the same experience as the previous post, but from a different point of view.

Lesley Delivers and Students for Social Justice (SSJ) teamed up on Wednesday night to bring peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, juice boxes, snacks, and hand sanitizer to individuals in Harvard Square. It was a quiet night for both Lesley and Harvard Square. We had four Lesley students prepare and deliver meals. Two of the individuals that joined us was experiencing Lesley Delivers for the first time, it’s great to have more students joining in on the experience! There weren’t many individuals around Harvard Square, we were able to hand out a few bagged meals but, also found ourselves leaving bags in areas where people might stop by later in the night. After we de-briefed on the night’s events and discussed our service in connection to social justice issues, I went with another student volunteer to CVS and we noticed on our way in that one of the bags that we had left was already taken. On our way out of CVS to go back to Lesley, we noticed one or two other bags had already been taken. It was a great feeling to see that they had been taken; it was great to see that a few more people would have a sandwich to eat that night! Recently, while we do our sandwich runs, people have been telling us we should come earlier. This week our sandwich runs were earlier than our regular time, and when we went later individuals were in the area to receive the sandwiches we made.

Lesley Delivers with Students for Social Justice

2009-03-28T14:01:00.000-07:00

This blog was written by Lesley University Senior Sandy Ho, President of Students For Social Justice.

The other night Students for Social Justice had the opportunity to host a Lesley Delivers event. The goal was not only to reach out to the homeless population in Harvard Square, but in doing so to connect with our friends engaged in direct service with social justice. From the social justice perspective I am engaged in classes that teach me about social policies, and have had several internships that deal with political activity on both a national and international scale. Admittedly, I went into the experience with very little experience and knowledge of direct service; simply stated, this notion of directly impacting one individual's life or several individuals' lives was new to me.

The night before however, I had attended a presentation by Dr. Jesse Gaeta - a doctor who provides healthcare for homeless individuals. In her presentation she not only gave an incredibly eye-opening and humbling talk on how she provides health care services, but was able to put it into a context of what is going on in the policy world. Her discussion with us stressed that housing and health care are human rights. And though our communities and federal government has resources, her approach with her patients is not one of doctor and patient - but one that puts the individual on center stage. "How did this person come to be in the state s/he is in?" And from there she frames her support, she guides the individual, she provides the services - this is in sharp contrast to what I view my relationship with my own physicians which many times is framed in a "doctor's orders" context. That evening I asked Dr. Gaeta how she navigates the perspective of direct service with large-scale political change, and whether or not it was difficult (as she made it seem so seamless and natural). I would soon be able to find out for myself...

That night more than ever before, I felt at the cross roads of civic engagement. Up until that point I had largely thought of social justice action as those that implement structural change on a greater societal level, and direct service as a temporary band-aid on the problem. Political lobbying on Capitol Hill during my Washington Semester in D.C. vs. handing out sandwiches in Harvard Square to the homeless: The differences between the two forms of activity are obvious, but are there any similarities? Was it possible for me to connect the two 'spheres of service' ? I would soon learn that not only are there more similarities than I had thought, but the two together are critical if we are to be successful in our fight against homelessness.

I looked aroung the group of students who were out with me that night. The wide diversity in backgrounds and interests represented reflects not only a personal choice, but in doing so highlights the fact that both volunteerism and social justice provides an opportunity for diverse people to engage in a personal choice together. The second similarity I noticed was that the divide between Students for Social Justice members and Lesley Delivers was non-existant, we were all together to be involved in a purposeful and change-oriented activity.
As an intern at Be the Change Inc., a major convener of the recently passed Serve America Act - I have come to appreciate the critical need and perspective of direct impact. When legislation is presented to the Senate, our Senators utilize the stories of direct impact, effect, and positive change on real people to persuade their fellow colleagues for or against a certain political-change. As I wrapped up the group's reflection that night, we were able to see how volunteers effect political agenda-setting and policy-making, but as I said good-night to the individuals who I had gotten to know better that night I also realized that the direct volunteerism we were involved in changes the relationships between people of different parts of society.

Lesley Delivers with Class of 2011

2009-03-25T17:45:00.000-07:00

Hi! I'm Sarah DiGiaimo and I led the Lesley Delivers last night. It was also the first day of Hunger and Homelessness Week and the kick-off to a nightly sandwich run. Last night's run was sponsored by the Class of 2011 and seven people from the class came to help. Everyone on the run last night was there for their first time. It was great to see new faces joining Lesley Delivers and more people who care about helping out the homeless in our community. We made 20 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and had a variety of snacks and candy to add to the bags. Unfortunately it was a very cold night, but we saw two different groups of people in Harvard Square and they seemed to be staying together, hopefully to keep warm. They were very grateful for the sandwiches and immediately started eating them. It was great to know that our sandwiches were going to those who needed them. Hopefully now that it is Spring, it will start to get warmer and make for more comfortable nights for those who have no shelter.

Reunion

2009-03-21T22:11:00.000-07:00

Several weeks ago I ran into the couple from one of our first sandwich runs- the ones who were kicked out of the shelter for two weeks. We found each other on the T and had a wonderful reunion as the woman told me all about her new apartment that they had only been living in for a short time. I was so excited and happy for them that life had perhaps become a smidgen better. We exchanged tears and goodbyes and wished each other luck. She said that she had never forgotten about the students who had helped her get through her first night on the street.

Today I ran into the couple again. They now have a steady home, are 7 months pregnant (which means they were pregnant on the street), and have not forgotten us. She called me her "guardian angel" as I met members of her family who knew all about our group, shook my hand, and thanked me. It was an incredible experience.

I don't know how many people have been positively affected by Lesley Delivers, but I do know it has touched one life profoundly: mine.

Blog for 2/25

2009-03-02T09:42:00.000-08:00

Tonight I worked with Sam and Reed House to venture out on this cold, windy night. We had 4 participants, all excited to meet our friends in Harvard Square. We went out earlier than usual. As a result, we did not see as many people as usual. We wondered if this was a positive thing or a negative one...

If people aren't out, are they somewhere safe?

Blog for 2/17/2009

2009-03-01T09:41:00.000-08:00

We are a little behind in blogging! So I will attempt to catch up on this lazy Boston Sunday, covered with snow.

For the Sandwich Run on 2/17/2009, Lyndsey Carpenter co-led the event along with myself. The run of the night was not an "open" event as usual, but was directed towards all participants of Lesley's Alternative Spring Break to Asheville, North Carolina. These individuals will choose to spend their Spring Break helping in the Asheville community with Habitat for Humanity. Other groups will travel to Spartanburg, South Carolina to work with Habitat for Humanity and also Camden, New Jersey to participate in several projects focused around social justice.

Nine people from the Asheville group were able to come out on this night, making 20 bag dinners total and even adding candy bars in to spread some Valentine's Day spirit- for those who wanted it.

During the debrief, I asked (as I always do): "How can you tell if someone is homeless? Is there a way to tell?" (After all this time and all of these sandwich runs, I still don't know the answer and perhaps never will.) One person suggested that the energy someone gives off could be an indicator. She expanded on this and stated that sometimes people who are homeless do not want to connect with others. This is an interesting thought and it further shows that every person we meet throughout our lives is different; homeless, not homeless, hungry, or not hungry.

Vicious Cycle

2009-02-18T10:07:00.000-08:00

Homeless families face strict new rules

Firm standards set for work, behavior; Some say many will be forced into streets
''It's a catch-22,'' Grace Monteiro, with her son Keegan, said of housing regulations for the city's homeless. Monteiro, 28, has been in and out of shelters and apartments for several years. ''It's a catch-22,'' Grace Monteiro, with her son Keegan, said of housing regulations for the city's homeless. Monteiro, 28, has been in and out of shelters and apartments for several years. (John Bohn/ Globe Staff)
By David Abel
Globe Staff / February 17, 2009

Less than two years after vowing to end homelessness in Massachusetts, the Patrick administration has proposed new regulations that it acknowledges could force hundreds of homeless families back on the street.

The regulations, scheduled to take effect April 1, would deny shelter to families who in the last three years had been evicted from or had abandoned public or subsidized housing without good cause, and to those who fail to meet a new 30-hour per week work requirement and save 30 percent of their income.

They also would reduce from six months to three months the period families can remain in shelters after their incomes rise above state limits; force out families absent from shelters for at least two consecutive nights as well as those who reject one offer of housing without good reason; and deny benefits for families whose members have outstanding default or arrest warrants as well as those whose only child is between ages 18 and 21, unless the child has a disability or is in high school.

Advocates for the homeless decried the proposal, which comes at a time when more homeless families are seeking beds in state shelters and remaining there longer. This month, the state is providing shelter for a record of nearly 2,700 families - one-quarter of them cramming for weeks at a time in expensive, often unsuitable motel rooms.

"This is not the time to change the safety net," said Robyn Frost, executive director of the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless. "The number of people in need of shelter is like nothing we've ever seen. There's never been such a desperate need for housing, and these changes could be devastating. They couldn't come at a worse time."

Julia E. Kehoe, the commissioner of the Department of Transitional Assistance, which oversees state shelters, said the system is "overburdened" and must change to provide services more equitably.

"It is certainly not our intent to be punitive, and we understand the difficulties families are facing," Kehoe said. "But we are responsible for transforming the system, and particularly at a challenging time, it is absolutely critical that all stake holders need to work together to make sure that families have the greatest chance of moving out of shelter and poverty."

While hundreds of families will likely lose their shelter beds, she said the changes would open space for qualifying families, many of whom the state is now paying an average of $85 a night to stay in motels. Last week, more than 630 families, including about 1,000 children, were staying at motels, waiting an average 22 days for a spot at the state's 59 shelters.

By reducing those eligible for shelter, Kehoe said the new regulations would save the state $520,000 this fiscal year and more than $11 million in fiscal 2010. "Given our limited resources, we wanted to encourage people to find housing or stay where they are, rather than encouraging them to come into the system," she said.

But those who work with the state's neediest residents said the new "harsh restrictions" will only make it harder for the homeless to find a way out of poverty.

They said many of the regulations are open to interpretation and risk being applied unfairly if a shelter director doesn't consider an explanation reasonable. Other regulations, such as the work and income requirements, would replace individual plans with uniform policies that might not take into account a family's unique challenges. And they worried that many of the families' older children - who are eligible to stay in state shelters until age 21 - will end up alone in often more dangerous shelters for individual adults.

Tom Lorello, executive director of Heading Home, which houses about 110 families in shelters and apartments throughout the Boston area, said many of the new regulations "put the blame in the wrong place."

"I don't understand the idea of excluding people in need from shelters," he said. "There has to be flexibility in a system like this. For example, some people can't save their income because they have debts to pay. We shouldn't be putting any unnecessary strains on already strained families."

But Kehoe insisted the regulations will be applied fairly and noted they provide exceptions for families trying to pay down their debt, for those who hold jobs that might make them reluctant to accept a housing opportunity too far away, and for others who can't find affordable housing after their income rises above welfare limits.

She and other state officials said the regulations are part of the administration's effort to overhaul the shelter system by more quickly moving the homeless into more permanent housing. In 2007, state officials moved the last homeless family out of a motel and heralded it as part of their new strategy to help all of the state's homeless find permanent housing.

As part of that plan, the state recently merged the welfare agency's emergency shelter programs with housing programs run by the Department of Housing and Community Development and is now planning eight regional networks to better coordinate homeless services and housing.

And this month, the state revised the way it pays shelters, holding back thousands of dollars in payments until homeless families are housed. The state now withholds its final payments for a year after the family leaves the system, as part of an incentive for shelters to extend their services to help keep the families housed.

"We know the severity of the problem, and we're trying to provide a comprehensive approach," said Bob Pulster, executive director of the state's Interagency Council on Housing and Homelessness.

He and others said they expect to receive millions of dollars from the federal stimulus package, which they hope will ease the state's growing burden.

But they said federal money won't stop the new regulations from taking effect - and the imminent changes have Grace Monteiro worried.

The 28-year-old mother of a toddler has been in and out of shelters and apartments for several years. In the fall of 2007, six months after landing a $15-an-hour job as an administrative assistant, she was forced to move out of a shelter because she exceeded the income requirements, which is now an income of $1,578 a month for a family of two.

So she moved into an expensive studio apartment - she couldn't find affordable housing in time - but she had trouble balancing the rent with her other expenses. Within a few months, Monteiro lost her job and she and her son moved into a state-subsidized motel room and then back into the shelter system.

She says three months isn't long enough for many families to find affordable apartments, which are increasingly scarce. As a result, she thinks the new regulations will just encourage more parents to avoid working.

"It's a catch-22," she said. "I want to get a job, but I'm afraid to get a job. I don't want to repeat what happened last time. Because if I don't have housing after three months, then what? This just makes it harder to do the right thing."

David Abel can be reached at dabel@globe.com.

Lyndsey

2009-02-12T18:27:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone! I’m Lyndsey Carpenter and I am a guest blogger for Lesley Delivers. We went out last night with Sarah DiGiaimo as a co-leader. There will be other people taking leadership roles, such as co-leader or blogging, as Lesley Delivers grows. But now on to the good stuff! We had 15 people come out with us tonight for the first sandwich run of the semester! That’s such a great turn out considering that a lot of people are already swamped with work.
Once we got into Harvard Square we began to realize one thing – we weren’t seeing many people. In fact, we ended up with a few bagged dinners left after the run was over. During the debrief we discussed this with mixed feelings. It is mostly a good thing to have food left over because we can only hope this means that the people on the streets have found safe places to stay. There is an underlying worry about not being able to reach everyone, people who go unseen to the passerby. But we have to remember that we are doing a great thing by going out each night that we do. We cannot do everything, but if we can make the night more comfortable for one person, it’s worth it.

While doing a loop around the square again, we saw a man who we had given a dinner to earlier. He was eating his sandwich, and this made us feel good about what we were doing. Another moment that created a warm feeling within us was when we passed by a place where we had left a few dinners and noticed that they were gone. We can only hope that they were being used and enjoyed.

In our discussion after the run, we gained a new insight on what we are doing from a participant. She said that the people we may come in contact with “may have homes, but may still be hungry.” This reminded us that not only are we fighting homelessness, we are fighting hunger on its own. We also talked and gain a new perspective on homelessness and shelters. A participant talked about how sometimes one would have to go from shelter to shelter looking for a bed, and that is oftentimes detrimental to getting back on your feet. She said, “You can’t move on with your life when you’re looking for a bed.”
It is hard to do, but I want to ask you to think about one thing. What if. Yes, the dreaded “what if”. What if the bed you are sitting in, or thinking about retiring to, was no longer there? What if you had to go find a place and wait for your name to be drawn to know if you had a comfortable, safe place to rest? Could you do it? Some people don’t have the luxury of answering that question. Some people just have to do it. It takes energy to think about it, but it takes much more strength and courage to live it.

The President Is Not the Only Thing That Needs a Vote

2009-02-02T21:48:00.000-08:00

Thanks, Anne-Marie!

The Greater Boston Food Bank is entered in The Virgin America What's Your Revolution Charity Promotion for Non-Profits in the Boston area. Any 501(c) 3 organization who has entered and has the most votes will receive a donation of $25,000! With the assistance of our short-notice volunteers I think we can pull this one out! $25,000 will help feed 100,000 people!!

The Food Bank is currently in 80th place, although standing may change by the time you receive this message.

Before voting, you will need to register with the site; Registering is EXTREMELY easy, and you wont be harrassed by Virgin with emails! They only require someone to reigster so there is not one person continually voting for the same organization.

Click here http://revolutiontakesflight.com/categories/133-non-profit-causes/page-2> (http://revolutiontakesflight.com/)

Once you’ve logged on, please scroll down the page(s) until you see Greater Boston Food Bank and click on the “VOTE” icon to vote.

Please do your part by voting for us and forwarding this e-mail message to everyone in your network, including family, friends, colleagues, etc!

Voting ends on February 6, 2009 and is open to legal residents of Massachusetts who are at least twenty one (21) years old.

Thank you for your continued support of our organization,
Steven Brady
Volunteer Assistant
The Greater Boston Food Bank
617.427.5200, ext. 5096
sbrady@gbfb.org
www.gbfb.org
www.newfoodbank.org

New Year, New Goals

2009-01-23T22:52:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! In just three days, the new semester will begin. Over break, I have thought a lot about what Lesley Delivers "should" be and also, what it is becoming. Many of my days have been spent in preparation for the organization to be up and running as we once again begin to hear the hustle and bustle of students around the Lesley campus (including Harvard Square).

I recently took a trip to El Salvador to work with Habitat for Humanity. Though I knew the quality of life would be much different from what we are accustomed to in the U.S., I could never have imagined how great that difference would be. The poverty was so immense, yet the general feeling was much more uplifting than what we find here. Material objects are not placed on a pedestal, family is more important than money, and life is lived at a slower, much more relaxed pace. The result? A statistically poorer, yet seemingly altogether happier country and culture.

Which is more important?

Here's to another great semester--with redefined goals and an even stronger desire .

Wake Up and Smell the (Coffee) Housing Crisis

2009-01-06T17:25:00.000-08:00

This article is from the Boston Globe and was in the "Metro" Section on January 6th, 2009.

Homeless families rise 22% in a year
Children hit particularly hard, Hub census says

By Milton J. Valencia
Globe Staff / January 6, 2009

The number of homeless families living in Boston has jumped for the fourth straight year, making children without a home the fastest-growing group, according to results from the mayor's annual census.

The Homeless Census showed that the number of families living in emergency shelters, transitional housing, or even in motels jumped 22 percent in the past year, from 3,175 in 2007 to 3,870 in December. The number of children without a home soared 24 percent in 2008, from 1,850 to 2,288.

As past programs have targeted the elderly and people with drug addictions and mental illnesses, city officials said a new, concerted effort is needed to assist homeless families as their numbers climb during tough economic times.

"For families, it's really about insufficient income to afford a place to live," said Jim Greene, director of the city's Emergency Shelter Commission. "Family homelessness is caused by the divide between people's incomes and housing costs, and when the gap is too great the problem gets worse."

The Homeless Census, required by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, is based on a count of the overall number of people living in emergency shelters, transitional housing, hospitals and medical facilities, hotels and motels, and on the streets on one given night.

On Dec. 15, Mayor Thomas M. Menino and about 350 volunteers including city and state officials went into Boston's neighborhoods, reaching out to people living in alleys and under bridges and referring them to shelters and programs.

City officials counted an overall total of 7,681 homeless people that night - which included individuals and family members - up from 6,930 last year, an 11 percent jump.

The census, however, also showed that while the number of families without homes has climbed, the count of homeless individuals only - those considered unaccompanied by anyone - has held steady over the last several years, a tribute to new strategies in reaching out to people living on the streets.

According to the census, the city counted 3,811 homeless individuals, compared with 3,705 last year, a 3 percent increase.

A positive sign of the survey was that the number of elderly people living on the street dropped from a high of 77 in 2004 to fewer than 30 last month.

"We have made some progress, but more needs to be done," Menino said in a statement, adding, "this census reflects the growing challenge that low-income families, especially young mothers, are facing during tough economic times."

Joe Finn, executive director of the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance, said the stable number of homeless individuals is a credit to Menino's strategy to find people homes before treatment is discussed.

Only then, he said, can officials work with someone to address the root problems that caused them to be homeless - mental illness, substance abuse, or economic woes.

Lyndia Downie, president and executive director of the Pine Street Inn, a Boston homeless shelter, said the increase in the number of families without homes is an ugly sign of the touch economic times.

"I think it's part of a trend across the country, where a combination of so many things going on with the economy are really hitting families in every way," she said.

Greene said that the homeless families often include a single parent who lost a job. In other cases, parents have jobs but still can't afford housing. Meantime, funding for housing vouchers has plunged, he said.

"We need more than just what the city can do," Greene said. "We need the state and federal government to look at the housing crisis for families. We need every level of government and the private and nonprofit sector aligning their resources to address this housing crisis."

An Article

2009-01-04T23:48:00.000-08:00

Dec 4, 2008

LU SOFTBALL AND LESLEY DELIVERS ORGANIZE COAT DRIVE

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - The Lesley University softball team teamed up with Lesley Delivers to organize the 1^st ever Coat and Winter Accessory Drive on campus. The drive was held for two weeks in November and succeeded in collecting over 125 items that were delivered to the Margaret Fuller House in Central Square.

After all the collecting and sorting was completed, both groups collected over 25 women's dress coats, 15 men's coats, 61 accessories (including scarves, gloves, mittens, hats), 15 kid's items, four casual sweaters/sweatshirts, four pairs of shoes, and two blankets.

"As a team, we were thrilled to partner with Lesley Delivers to run our first coat drive," commented Head Coach Jen Benway. "As part of Lesley's mission to "Wake Up the World," we wanted to do our part to give back to the community. With winter right around the corner, it made sense to gather coats and accessories to help those in need."

Several of the collectors were able to see the delivery through to the Margaret Fuller House which is a local food pantry that also has an annual Thanksgiving Turkey Drive around the holidays. Many people in need were given turkeys, beans, vegetables, and other ingredients to prepare for family and friends on Thanksgiving. Along with the food that was distributed, people also received additional warm clothing that they were not expecting.

"It was remarkable to see the support from the Lesley community. We received more coats than we ever expected and because of the success that we had we hope to continue the coat drive each winter. Thank you to all the faculty, staff, and students from Lesley and AIB for their support!"

Lesley Delivers is a student-run organization dedicated to supporting the homeless individuals around Lesley University and the Cambridge community. Look for Lesley Delivers to provide opportunities to serve at local shelters such as Rosie's Place and conduct local sandwich runs before school breaks for the holiday break.

To learn more about the Lesley University softball team, please visit their website and to learn more about Lesley Delivers, please visit their blog.

To learn more about the Lesley University softball team, please visit their website.

The Filet Mignon

2008-12-05T22:12:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a ground-breaking day for Lesley Delivers. An article was posted on the Lesley University Athletics website detailing our work on the Winter Coat and Accessory Drive. Check it out at: www.lesley.edu/athletics! In addition, I received 7 emails from Lesley staff and faculty wanting to contribute to the cause. In fact, the Student Administrative Offices at Lesley are even hosting a raffle which will raise money for a Star Market gift card to fund us next semester. I was so touched by the emails and excited that word is getting out. It is a real reminder that we are making a difference!

On our sandwich run last night, we only ran into 5 or 6 individuals. This could be a positive thing-- maybe people are finding shelter in this chilly weather. I can't help but wonder, however, if maybe it has been too long since we were last out. Maybe a 2-week break was just enough time for people to lose hope that there are people out there who are trying to help. I hope this is not the case. We will hopefully be out one more time during finals week before our long winter break at home. I am hoping to work with some staff, faculty, and administrators during the January break to do a few sandwich runs since students will not be around.

If you are reading this and are interested in helping out during the January break, please let me know!

The Turkey

2008-11-27T13:48:00.000-08:00

"It isn't what you have in your pocket that makes you thankful, but what you have in your heart"- Anonymous

Happy Thanksgiving! Please remember what you have today-whether it's food, family, health, or a combination of all three, recognize its importance. Though we have not embarked on a run in the last week and a half, Lesley Delivers has participated in another amazing event: A Winter Coat and Winter Accessory Drive. Along with the Lesley Softball Team, we collected and sorted over 25 Women's Dress Coats, 15 Men's Coats, 61 Accessories (including scarves, gloves, mittens, hats), 4 casual Sweaters/Sweatshirts, 15 Kid's Items, 2 Blankets, and 4 Pairs of Shoes. This is over 125 items that went to people in need. Not only did we collect and sort these items, but a few of us were even able to see the delivery of these items to the Margaret Fuller House in Central Square. This is a great food pantry that has a Thanksgiving Turkey Drive around the holidays. Many people in need were given frozen turkeys, beans, vegetables, and other ingredients to prepare for family and friends on Thanksgiving. In addition, because of our hard work, they were able to leave home with some extra warm apparel that they were not expecting. Amazing! Thanks to Jen Benway, the Softball Team at Lesley, and everyone else who helped in the execution of this awesome idea. Remember what you have to be thankful for today...everyone has something.

In the next two months, look out for:

-An Uno's "DoughRaiser" Fundraiser for Lesley Delivers

-Opportunities to serve at local shelters, such as Rosie's Place

-Several sandwich runs before we depart for Holiday Break

The Meatloaf

2008-11-16T22:15:00.000-08:00

Today we got down to the real meat and potatoes of our work. Myself, combined with the efforts of Carol (VP of Enrollment at Lesley), Cara (a Simmons Social Work student), and representatives from The Outdoor Church (A wonderful organization in Harvard Square) spent 5 hours, from 11 am to 4 pm participating in a church service as well as handing out food, blankets, and resources to those in need in Harvard and Central Square. It was a day filled with joy and sorrow as we met new people, heard new stories, and discovered many new things.

It made me realize that Lesley Delivers is not going to be perfect this year or the next. In fact, the Outdoor Church has been running for 5 years and according to the leaders we worked with today there are still many problems to be worked out.

Can we ever really do enough? While we accepted requests about what we could bring next week as far as food or clothing, we can't change the fact that these people will still have no warm "home" to go back to after a long day. But what is a home, really? During the church service today, we explored this idea. A home does not have to be a structure with a door, windows, and a bathroom. A home, to many, isj ust a place to sit. Just any place on Earth, really.

The service was beautiful. The altar was created out of a rolling cart and a sheet. A Reverend led the service, a man who comes every week read the prayer, and we all read hymns and phrases together in the freezing cold. Everyone was okay with being cold, happy to be together, and ecstatic to be alive.

It was a few hours that I know Carol, Cara, and I will never forget.

Fast Food Fact

2008-11-14T00:11:00.000-08:00

In just a month, we have embarked on seven sandwich runs to Harvard Square where we have given food and other supplies to those in need. We are working diligently to fundraise and budget because as we are meeting these individuals we see more and more that needs to be changed right in our own backyard. Currently, over 43 students have taken part in a sandwich run and these numbers are continuing to grow each and every week. We have had representatives from Athletics, The Office of Community Service, SGA, Residence Life, and every undergraduate class of our University.

We are beginning to deliver more than just food...we are delivering promise.

The Chicken Marsala

2008-11-09T21:26:00.000-08:00

Tonight, Georgia and I wanted to do our own, quick version of Lesley Delivers. It was as simple as buying a box of $2.99 donuts at CVS and we were making people's nights worthwhile. We saw the usual crew, a new fellow, and the people who we first met a few nights ago--the couple who was spending their first night on the street. We asked them how they were doing and they seemed slightly positive. They confessed to us that they had chosen to stay on the streets because they had been kicked out of a shelter. Someone had grabbed the woman inappropriately, and her partner, in defense, had knocked the man out. Because of this incident, they were kicked out of this shelter for 200 days. TWO HUNDRED. In two hundred days, it will be warm again. In 200 days a typical human being will have consumed 400,000 calories. Just to give you an idea, that would be 1,333 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. We can do better than this.

The Cheese and Crackers

2008-11-05T00:51:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since we have ventured out as a group, due to scheduling problems, midterms, and no real funding as of yet. Tonight we had SEVENTEEN people- I could not believe it. It was too good to be true. We had the most volunteers we have ever had...and it was raining.

Tonight we met a couple spending their first night on the street. Before we realized what we were doing, we found ourselves in CVS, chipping in to purchase food and drinks in order to make this couple feel as comfortable as possible. Was this the right thing to do? I still don't know. We tried not to show sadness, but it was difficult.

Our debrief was a powerful one. How often do we label others without realizing that we are doing it? How often do we say ignorant things without fully recognizing that we are doing it?

Every time we go it gets easier, but in reality, harder. We now know the places to find those in need, we see familiar faces, and after 4 runs, we have pretty much established a routine. Though we are helping and serving it is my hope that someday this need won't exist. Maybe someday there will be no one on the streets, no one hungry or thirsty, and no one cold and alone. Let's pray that we did vote for change and that we will see this change soon.

The Breadsticks

2008-10-22T00:23:00.000-07:00

It's midnight, on a school night, and ten women just spent the last two + hours making sandwiches and distributing them to those in Harvard Square. This first official event has shown me that there IS an interest on this campus, there IS a need we are working to fulfill, and there IS a desire to help others-willingly. One volunteer reminded me of something super important during our debrief tonight: we need to put the dignity back in our service. She used the example of personalizing the food we hand out instead of quickly putting together leftovers and odds and ends. This could mean writing notes, putting helpful packets of information together, and other sorts of great, creative ideas.

All the volunteers who came out tonight were first-year students who willingly and openly gave up the better part of their night to serve others in their own community and learn about people who are different from them (but not too different they soon found). And this- this was all during midterms week. Do you remember it? Your first year at school, your first set of midterms, one of your first chances to prove yourself academically. And they were out helping others.

I am so proud of our small club that is quickly building into something bigger than what we are doing. We are exchanging ideas, creating goals, and surely making an impact.

As a Harvard masters student who saw us handing out our sandwiches said tonight and what we are now doing on a weekly basis- "that is beautiful".

The Salad

2008-10-18T11:48:00.000-07:00

This post should really be called "The icing on the cake" as we officially became a recognized Lesley University club on Wednesday, the 15th. There is such a need on campus for a program like this one and I am excited and hopeful about the future of the club.

Already there is a great interest in "hosting" a Lesley Delivers event; this is super exciting. One CA, Tiffany, is going to be our first host this Tuesday, hopefully attracting many AIB & Lesley College students from the East-West dormitories. The following week we hope to have an athletic team or a variety of teams host.

I feel that having a faculty or staff member come along could truly take this new program to the next step. This would be a valuable way to connect with our faculty/staff on a different level, outside of the classroom.

I am hoping that as I pass this blog along more resources will continue to pop up.

The Soup

2008-10-11T21:10:00.000-07:00

After having such a successful start to the program (which still is not officially Lesley Delivers until we get approved by student activities) we set out only 6 days later in hopes that we could connect with even more people.

Because we have not yet received funding, we paid out of our own pockets. We only spent about $10 in total, buying bread, cheez-its, oreos, and using our meal points to stock up on drinks. We also received 5-6 sandwiches from our closest Starbucks, which they are forced to throw out at the end of the day due to sanitary reasons. Still, these sandwiches are fresh and should not go to waste.

We saw several of the same people as we had from a few nights before and this time they all took the sandwiches excitedly and without fear that they were unsafe or spoiled. They trusted us and it felt good.

We announced that we would back in the next few weeks and I thought to myself...I am NOT going back without blankets. It is too cold to be in an apartment without a heating unit, never mind on the streets with no shelter or warmth.

I am still concerned about some of the comments that have been made and some of the language that has been used while trying to help. Sometimes we don't even know that we are being ignorant so it is important to think about what is being said. I am going to work on this in the coming weeks, in hopes that I can further get this point across in the pre-flection.

Things we are currently looking for:

-Donated food/drinks

-Blankets

-Hand Sanitizer

-Pain medicine

-Charlie Cards

The Appetizer

2008-10-11T20:29:00.000-07:00

We need a change: in our attitudes, in our actions, in our community. We are working to create a buzz on campus, to get people excited about service, and to get people involved. We need your help!

We set out two weeks ago, October 1st, without an official club title, to serve sandwiches and snacks to the hungry and homeless in Harvard Square. We went over some safety information and ground rules before setting on foot to Harvard- approximately a 10-minute walk. As a small group of only 6, we started discussing how we approach someone in need and more importantly, how we know they are in need. Can we ever really know? Are we just assuming? This is something we continued to struggle with on our walk, but decided we could either: a.) do nothing or b.) possibly make judgements. We chose the latter.

Within 5 minutes, we met a sweet, middle-aged man with glasses...who happened to be very drunk. We soon found out he was a friendly drunk who was more than willing to tell us about his life experiences. He immediately got emotional, which struck a serious nerve in all of us. Mid-story, he taught us our first lesson of the night: all you need in life is food and shelter. Nothing more.

We ended the experience by thanking our new friend, telling him "We wish we could bring you more." "More?" He said. "You have brought me such a gift already."

We debriefed on the steps of a church, trying to find answers to why some people have to suffer so much while others have nothing to worry about. We are still searching for this answer.

We learned more than how to make bag dinners that first night. We learned how lucky we are.

Our first experience was an amazing one, which left us with sadness and a longing to do more. We found the motivation we need to venture back out and connect with these people again, our new friends.

Setting the Table for Change

2008-10-11T20:16:00.000-07:00

Our Mission Statement:

Lesley Delivers is an organization dedicated to supporting the homeless and hungry individuals around Lesley University and in the broader community of Cambridge, MA. The mission of Lesley Delivers is to help others in our own neighborhood by contributing food, resources, or time to the surrounding areas of our University. Our goals include, but are not limited to: building good-will in the community, creating a chance for teams/groups/individuals who volunteer to bond through service, creating awareness about local hunger, and running educational programs for the Lesley University community.

Our Inspiration:

"Never again should a people starve in a world of plenty"