Once again our team started the morning by eating breakfast here at the housing site and then packing our lunch to bring with us to eat later. Our morning routine has become second nature now as everyone knows the things they need to do to get ready for the day. Every group heads out at a little bit different time and so our mornings are filled with people at different stages of preparation for the day.
Serving group 1 began the day at Loaves and Fishes, a program that provides bi weekly meals to the homeless and working poor populations of Nashville. The kids had the opportunity to cook, clean, and serve meals, as well spend time engaging the guests and hearing their stories. We even had a chance to reconnect with some friends that were at our serving site across town the previous morning, which was encouraging evidence of fostering continuing relationships in a community that needs consistent love and support.
After lunch, group 1 once again went back to the N.I.C.E. camp. The program's commitment to loving and educating refugee children has been a humbling experience for our kids. The organization truly lives out Jesus's compassion on the lost and lonely, and our kids have been able to experience that compassion in a very tangible way.
Serving Group 2 started their day at Operation Stand Down Tennessee, which is a non profit organization that helps veterans in the Nashville area. Part of the group painted a storage trailer they had that they use to supply their thrift store, and another part of the group put together invitations for a fundraiser they will be having that will benefit veterans without homes. They spent the afternoon at the Magness Potter Boys and Girls club. Students get to build relationships with kids, playing all sorts of games and modeling what it looks like to listen and respect the authority figures in charge. Albeit simple tasks, you can tell the kids appreciate the new faces each week and it's clear the staff appreciate the extra help, too!
Serving Group 3 spent the morning at the Andrew Jackson Boys and Girls Club again. The students played games with, helped prepare meals for, and painted with the kids. The students spent their afternoon at a Catholic Charities satellite location that had never been visited by service groups before, which was very beneficial to them as they are getting themselves started. The students helped with planting flowers and picking weeds as well as sort, organize, and repackage clothing, books, and dishwater donations for the refugee population that the ministry serves. It's amazing how many different services and organizations exist in the area, and exciting to see continued growth and support for those in need.
Serving Group 4 had a similar morning routine as they had the previous two days. They served at Project Transformation, primarily reading with kids one on one. If our volunteers outnumbered the students who were reading, a few would go downstairs to assist with "Moving Minutes," where they play games that reinforce the theme of the week (in this case, "self control"). It's been cool to see them read with students in the sanctuary of the church they're serving at, because you don't know what God is sowing today to be reaped later on. I know there are many memories of church growing up that I didn't think would stick or impact me the way they have, so it's cool to imagine how kids might get to look back on this church as the place they were loved, taught, disciplined, and encouraged. After Project Transformation, Group 4 went to Loaves and Fishes to help clean up the facility after their lunch. Loaves and Fishes is a feeding center that serves meals three times a week. While we didn't get to engage with any guests who had eaten there, it was still a privilege to clean and hear from Mr. Jim, who oversees the operation.
Serving Group 5 went to Second Harvest Food bank which is a huge warehouse filled with food that they distribute to about half of the state of Tennessee for people that are food insecure, or unsure where each meal is going to come from. Our group was given the task of unloading and re-packaging over 5,000 pounds of frozen meat. Each team member was assigned one of five different roles: sorters, inspectors, packers, recyclers, and disposers. The inspectors checked each frozen package to see if it was spoiled or had any holes in the packaging so that the sorters could then split the meat up by type (poultry, pork, beef, and bison). Next, the packers boxed up the meat and placed it on pallets to be hauled away later. Finally, the recyclers and disposers took all of the boxes and trash out to their respective dumpsters outside to be crushed. The group was a well-oiled machine as they went through all of the packages of meat.
After eating lunch along the local river called the Cumberland river our group took a few cases of water and distributed them to local construction workers and homeless individuals. It was a hot day and so this was a chance to not only provide a little hydration, but also give us the opportunity to start a conversation with some of these men and women and hear about their lives. These conversations helped humanize these men and women that we often just try to avoid. It was inspiring to watch the group boldly ask if people wanted water and then strike up a conversation with them.
Instead of our normal porch time, our team was able to have a night off to go and experience a piece of the entertainment side of Nashville. We headed downtown to a famous restaurant called the Wildhorse Saloon which has a family friendly atmosphere before 9pm. As we serve in different vans throughout the day, this was a fun opportunity for everyone to be together and either learn how to line dance, play pool or foosball, or just hang out while enjoying the live music and Nashville atmosphere. We're back now and settling in, ready for another day tomorrow!
