Joshua Tadeo

*I'll input my feedback later*

I returned to Feed the Homeless with more familiarity. This time, I adopted a new task. The first time I attended, I was responsible for serving drinks from a stationary position. The second time, I provided toppings (lettuce) to hungry guests. This time, I took on a more active role, walking from table to table asking if anybody needed to be serviced (specifically refilling drinks). It was a great way to interact with people in a new way.

I attended the Rise Up Community Farm early in the morning. Rise Up Community Farm is a non-profit organization with a mission to eliminate food insecurity by growing food, teaching farming skills, and preparing youth with leadership skills.

Although I was aware that volunteers were not required to stay all 3.5 hours as scheduled, I felt immersed in the events that were planned. I first started with assisting the farm with harvesting sweet potatoes. The work was difficult using a pitchfork and locating potatoes was complicated as some were buried deeper than others. The task fostered a greater respect for agricultural workers, especially immigrants. Some people were assigned with harvesting more potatoes whilst others were tasked with cleaning potatoes. After collecting a significant number of potatoes, I was assigned with the duty of cleaning off the dirt. It was a great collaborative effort, as once potatoes were collected, they were sent to the cleaning station and then placed in a basket.

Experienced volunteers were informative and helpful, teaching me that potatoes should not be soaked in water. Instead, they must be cured in a dark room to toughen their skin and heal bruises. This aligns with their mission of instructing visitors about agriculture. After I took a break from cleaning the potatoes, I was tasked to pass out fresh produce (fairytale eggplants, okra, mustard greens, dino kale, long beans, longgrass, and green beans) to different attendees in a line. This satisifed the mission of alleviating local food insecurity. It was a great opportunity to interact with different people as if I was a salesperson, even if I wasn't actually receiving any revenue. I practiced my communication skills, specifically setting and enforcing boundaries, as visitors were only eligible to one type of vegetable per household. After passing out all the produce, I returned to cleaning more potatoes until noon, finishing every single potato that had been harvested that morning.

I greatly enjoyed this event, especially as I have gardening experience and I value supporting the underprivileged. Not only was it good for my physical health, but the community service offered a chance to develop a deeper respect and appreciation for agriculture and all its workers. By supporting people who were experiencing food insecurity, it also reminded me about the value of empathy. As a business major, this experience reminds me of the value of corporate social responsibility and the role of external stakeholders. Volunteering teaches us to stay involved with our local communities, rather than remain distant and potentially ignorant about our environment. Rise Up Community Farm absolutely accomplished its mission of empowering local youth, growing fresh produce sustainably, educating peers, and combating food insecurity.

I returned to Feed the Homeless again, accompanied by my friend Joseph who had much experience with the event in the past. Because we arrived earlier, I was able to be tasked with serving lettuce to any attendee who wished for it on their pork burger. Not only that, but I also assisted the team in preparing food for later delivery. It is customary to use leftovers to prepare to-go meals to handout later on. Of course, I also assisted with cleaning up afterwards, storing tables in the shed and coolers in the van.

This event took place at Veteran's Hall, the first location I went to when I visited the food pantry for the first time several weeks prior. The activity was therapeutic in my opinion and very easy going. I felt glad to assist the campus community by ensuring that there would continue enough food available and easily accessible at Veteran's Hall. Nina Le was a great coordinator and cooperation was smooth. I not only was responsible for cleaning shelves but also organizing new stock and mopping the floor.

This event reminded me to be grateful of what I have. I witnessed at least a dozen homeless people, even one family with two children, attend the event. The neighborhood was also a sharp contrast from the area bordering the UNCW campus, representing the contrast of two different worlds. My specific duty was serving drinks, specifically iced tea and lemonade, to complement the rest of the meal provided. It was good to work as a team, with some serving food and others providing clothing, to assist those in need within the underprivileged Wilmington community. One of the lead organizers was a deeply Christian man, reminding me of the power of faith in troubled circumstances.

I greatly admire altruism and want to help those in need. As someone with a cybersecurity concentration, this does touch upon such a value. Of course, there is a distinction between helping the wealthy and the poor but by using cybersecurity I would be able to help a wide variety of people. Upper class people are not the only ones who need their data protected. Financially vulnerable people such as the elderly or working-class greatly need cybersecurity.