Service Learning Log 2-Laura Reinman

Service Learning Log 2-4/26/08, 3 hrs

When I was waiting for Hannah down in the lobby, I was anxious to get started. This time my anxiousness did not come from my nerves but from my obsession with the Avalanche. Game 2 was scheduled right when my delivery shift was scheduled. At first I just wanted to get going as soon as possible so that I could make it back to school to catch the third period. By the end of the day, I had all but forgotten about the game.

Hannah and I started driving and suddenly my focus shifted to not getting car sick on the over-crowded highway. I took deep breaths and thought of clean, fresh air. We arrived right on time (which was technically late because I was a first timer). In any case, we rushed inside to see what we needed to do. There were a few regular volunteers rushing past us, getting their regular routes. A lady (I didn’t even catch her name) gave us an abbreviated version of what to do/not do when we were delivering. We were handed the sheet for route “R” and about 7 bags of food. We loaded the bags into Hannah’s trunk and fell into the car. I had my GPS with me, her name is Sally. I programmed the locations into Sally and we began our half an hour journey to Lakewood.

We found our first destination with no problem (thanks to Sally). We both grabbed the food and made our way to the door. I felt nervous and it heightened my senses. I remember the black Toyota truck rolling by the green lawn across the street and the distant hum of traffic. I knocked on the door and we waited. No one came, and after a couple of minutes of waiting we left the bags on the stoop with one of the blue notes. I was a little disappointed at not having any interaction, especially on my first delivery. I found it disappointing because I was curious to see who would be opening that door and how they would receive the bags. I was hoping for a warm welcome, but was prepared for a person that was short with us or even rude. The thing I was not prepared for, was no interaction at all. But, we moved on to the next place. We found the address on the sign of a handsome looking apartment complex. We parked on the street and got out of the car to try to find exactly where we were supposed to be. It ended up being the very last group of apartments and the crisp almost winter air started biting at my hands. This time Hannah knocked on the door. Music was blasting inside. It was rap or something like it, and I found myself wondering if we were really at the right place. Then, a teenage boy answered and seemed to know who we were. He quickly took the food and mumbled a, “thank you.” I felt good about at least exchanging a hello and goodbye. Hannah and I walked back down the hill to the car. The next place we went was an apartment complex that we had to be buzzed into. I had only seen this done on TV before, and found it amusing. We delivered to a seemingly blind man who was very grateful. His was the type of experience that I was expecting, and I actually did get that “instant gratification” feeling. By this I mean, that it was obvious that he was grateful for the food and that he needed help getting the food. This made me feel good about being the one that could help him out that day. We next went to an apartment in the same building. A man answered the door. He had oxygen in, and limped when he walked. He was cheerful and thanked us a few times. Our last stop was up next. We stopped on the street indicated, but we couldn’t find the place right away. There was a man mowing his lawn and kids playing Frisbee in the street. They didn’t seem too concerned with our presence. We found the place and a nice woman answered the door. She said thank you and then we were on our way.

It was interesting being able to glimpse in on the lives of people that day. They lead lives that are so different and yet so similar to my own. Each time a door opened, I got to see a second of what those people go through every day. There was the couple who grabbed the bag inside after Hannah and I left, the young boy, the elderly men, and the woman surrounded by people who cared for her. Their lives are nothing like what I see on campus every day. It was like seeing the real Denver for the first time. I got to see normal people living their lives. I know that sounds so obvious, but I get caught in this DU reality, which really isn’t a reality at all. This experience also changed the way I thought of the clients that Project Angel Heart served. I never really thought that I could see such diversity in five stops all in the same neighborhood. I guess illness doesn’t care who you are, what you do, how many kids you have or how old you are. I suppose I should know this, but it was put right in front of me that day. Finally, even though the people I met that day didn’t live exactly as I did, I could see some similarities too. The boy listening to music, presumably living with a sick parent, the elderly person watching TV, it doesn’t matter, we are all people. We all need food and to feel like someone cares and is watching out for us. That is what I learned, that the person delivering the food is not so different from the person receiving the food.