2 days in...

UCOM's pilot week is off and running. We've had two days of work and experiential education. Day One, one-third of the group traveled by city bus to the Cleveland Food Bank, where they helped process the incoming donated food, by separating each item into specific categories. At the end of their work time, they processed close to 10,000 pounds of food. One-third of the group went to Bishop Cosgrove Center in downtown Cleveland where they helped prep and serve lunch in the soup kitchen. At the end of work time, they dished out and served over 200 lunches. The lunches included Salisbury steak, noodles and gravy, cooked mixed veggies, cake or cookies, a chunk of bread and juice. A very nice meal. The last third of the group, shopped for and delivered school supplies to Chagrin Falls Park Community Center. The children that are serviced by the Community Center come from very poor families who can't always supply the basics for school.

Day two, The food bank was revisited, but this time the youth worked in the community kitchen. The kitchen provides accessible meals for immediate delivery. They packaged both individual meals (BBQ chicken, noodles, veggies and dessert, that were then sealed) and boxed meals that included 6 bags of food including a turkey and cheese sandwich, fruit cup, cole slaw cup, milk and a package of veggies. While a few were packaging these meals into boxes, others were in the kitchen making the sandwiches. Over 800 sandwiches were made for packaging. The school supplies were also revisited and with both days, 25-1st, 2nd and 3rd graders will go to school in a few weeks with all the supplies they need. The last work group for day two went to the West Side Catholic Center. This group sorted the clothing donations and the supplied the clothing store with the new donations. They turned the store over twice during working hours. Over 100 people received clothing today because of their efforts.

Both afternoons 1/2 the group attended a poverty simulation. Each of the 14 participants was given a scenario representing either someone who was homeless, a runaway, an unemployed married couple, and a working single mom. In each scenario they were given a "Life". Things like, a drivers license (or not), and address (Or not), income (or not), etc. They were taken into a room that was set up with an unemployment office, pawn shop, bank, food pantry, soup kitchen and a bill collector. They then had to figure out how their person who survive a day.

So far we are off to a great start. More great work to come as the week continues.