Hannah service learning 3

I completed my last shift with Project Angel Heart Tuesday, April 28, 2008 in the kitchen. When my group and I arrived, I was surprised to see another group of DU students already engaged with the Project Angel Heart team. There was no need for a formal introduction to the kitchen, since all of us had been there before. Therefore we quickly put on aprons and got to work for the evening's task, which was folding tortillas. For almost two hours we folded two tortillas at a time into fourths and placed them in plastic bags. We estimated that divided amongst the group--three students and three volunteers-- we each had to make almost two hundred of these bags. At first the task was understandably tedious, but after a few minutes once there was a rhythm, time passed quickly.
Once again, I was working with Kathy, the only volunteer that I had the chance to have a long conversation with about her motivation to join PAH and her experiences there. She was enthusiastic to have us all back, and we quickly picked up our past conversation about who we thought would win the show Dancing with the Stars. On this particular day, I also had the opportunity to meet two other male volunteers, who regularly work in the kitchen. Both were very engaging and welcomed the new company. While we continued to fold tortillas, as the other DU students wrapped up cookies and chopped celery, and the older volunteers started talking about the current grain crisis in America. Though I had heard about it before, I wasn't familiar with the issue, but after asking they told me that because of current experiments with genetically engineering crops to produce ethanol, the prices of grain has gone up to the point where people can't afford it. Kathy had little sympathy for people who were complaining about the unreasonable prices, saying something about how people in other countries had to deal with shortages all the time. Kathy's attitude about the food crisis is one that I noticed amongst all the regular volunteers: They continuously view the world from the perspective of the have-nots rather than the haves. I suppose is this ability that allows them to be selfless in donating their time and services because they know how not everyone is blessed financially or physically as the average American person.
Midway through the shift, Thom made a large pan of nachos with homemade pico de gallo salsa for when we took a break. But, volunteers always remained active during the shift, never really pausing for long. Around 7pm we finished folding tortillas, while the other DU students wrapped up chopping vegetables, and the PAH volunteers were done separating thick chunks of raw meet for stew. Clean up time. Within 10 minutes dishes were washed, tables cleaned, floors swept, and it was time to tackle the apron ball. Kathy explained that when they washed all of the aprons together, regardless of what they did with the straps, they always tangled up into a massive heap. My group and I took control of one pile and managed to attentively get it done within a few minutes--strangely a fun activity. Soon we said our goodbyes and were on our way back to the University.
Since I had worked in the kitchen before, I had learned what to expect. But what I did not expect, was exactly how limited volunteers were in handling the food. Kathy and the other regular volunteers explained to me, that they were not allowed to cook the food, only to prep it by chopping, slicing, wrapping ect. Sometimes, they were allowed to quick freeze the packages for delivery, but even that was rare. The actual cooking is the responsibility of intern chefs who come from the Johnson and Whales culinary school and I believe are paid to work in the kitchen. Once again, Thom was the head chef and was very accommodating, saying that if folding tortillas got too boring that we could chop celery-- but that he really needed the tortillas folded by tomorrow.
My final thoughts on this service-learning project with Project Angel Heart are that I think it's a professional organization with honorable values that does great work in the community. Being a volunteer is an opportunity to stretch your perspective on life and to learn to appreciate things that we normally take for granted such as a healthy meal, good health, and community. For me personally, I realized that I often take these things for granted and complain when things don't go my way. However, I encountered people delivering meals who had no choice in their fate and are making the best of it. It felt good seeing their smiles as we dropped off the bags. I particularly enjoyed working in the kitchen because the people were friendly, the environment was comfortable, and the tasks were easy to manage. Other than the occasional arm ache from spooning soup into a few dozen Styrofoam cups, I have only positive things to say, and would suggest PAH to other people, who have a full schedule, but still want to make a difference. All it takes is an afternoon.