By Thompson Perry
On a bitter cold Saturday morning, while most of their peers were sleeping in, a host of University of Louisville students were hard at work for a worthy cause.
Students like Patrick Beiting, Megan Reeves and Patrick Mayer, among others, joined forces to assist those in need by handing out blankets, toiletries and warm meals at The Lord’s Kitchen.
“It was very fulfilling and it’s an experience that is hard to put into words,” said Beiting, a junior communication major. “Everyday you go about your own business and don’t even think about how the other world lives.”
The socially conscious students who sacrificed their Saturday morning for the good of the community got a glimpse into that world with their service.
What many people ignore, these students embraced, and many were surprised at what they found.
“It wasn’t really what I thought it would be,” said Reeves, a freshman Spanish major. ?”There was much more need than I ever expected, and I am thankful that I now realize that all of our work went to a very worthy cause.”
Though the event was special in itself, the students were enchanted by the opportunity to see with their own eyes the immediate positive effects of their hard work.
Unlike donating essentials to faceless bins, this drive had a more personal touch. The volunteers found themselves interacting directly with the needy, an aspect of the day that stirred emotions for all parties involved.
“I didn’t know that I would be able to be as hands on with the people receiving the blankets as I was, and I was also grateful for that experience,” said Reeves.
The feeling was mutual according to her peers and the beneficiaries of their kindness.
“It is one thing to just drop blankets of at a shelter but we wanted to have a bigger impact,” said Beiting.
“We had many interactions with the recipients and helped the volunteers and workers serve lunch to them. Through that it made a greater impact on us, and it will be something I’ll always remember.”
It is hoped that the success and affect of the event, which Reeves referred to as “one of the most fulfilling” aspects of her college career, will lend themselves to similar collaborations in the future.
The university students who gave selflessly to make the event a success said they are united in their encouragement and endorsement of such service.
“Many people are even afraid to witness [the need of the unfortunate],” said Beiting. “But you can tell by the looks in their eyes and the many hugs we received that we made their day.”
The Lord’s Kitchen and its staff, including Greg Rambo, reciprocated the feelings of warmth and appreciation.
“The lord has truly blessed us with this connection to U of L and these incredible students,” said Rambo, who said he hopes that their example will lead to even more support from the campus community.
To get involved with The Lord’s Kitchen, which serves meals to the homeless 365 days a year, visit thelordskitchen.com.
