Cabrini students, faculty and staff stopped by the Wolfington Center in Founder’s Hall on Thursday, September 19th to make sandwich bags for the homeless and those experiencing food insecurity. Dozens of participants stopped by between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to make a sandwich and write a note of encouragement.
The snack bag event culminated in Civics Week at the Wolfington and benefited clients of Face-to-Face Germantown, a non-profit serving the Germantown section of Philadelphia, where 26% of residents live in deep poverty. The snack bag event will continue to be held monthly. Megan Norris, Wolfington Center Assistant, estimates that participants assemble and decorate about 100 bags each time, which is then delivered to Face-to-Face on Friday. The sandwiches are distributed on Saturday or Sunday as a takeaway for the clients. Many save their bag to have as a meal when they might otherwise have nothing.
Chardanay White, a senior political science and history double major, has participated in Face-to-Face events for more than a year. She enjoys personalizing the bags with positive messages and artwork.
“You don’t know who it is, but you just [write] something nice or uplifting to brighten their day,” White said. “Then you also decorate a bag depending on the season or the theme.”
Taylor Lawrence, a graduate student studying criminology and criminal justice, who also works at Wolfington Center, encourages first-time participants to stop by on Thursday.
“I think it’s just a great opportunity to give back to the community and help others,” Lawrence said.
In addition to community outreach, the event provides an opportunity for students to get to know each other.
“While they’re sitting there decorating the bag, usually conversations will take place around that table. Many times students are sitting across or next to someone they don’t even know because it’s just come in as you are available throughout the day,” Norris said. “ You might have an athlete next to a science major and they didn’t know each other and now here they are, sitting at this table doing this activity and meeting new people, as well as learning about the social justice issues that the Wolfington Center promotes.”
Thursday’s event was the kickoff for monthly Face-to-Face events, not to be confused with Campus Ministry’s PB&J nights, which also help feed the homeless. Both events help students engage with Catholic social teaching and the Justice Matters core curriculum.
“It’s always important for us to remember people who don’t have what we have,” Norris said. “Being able to do this is a very easy way to do something for someone else. . . and learn about the social justice issues that the Wolfington Center promotes.”
Students who would like to participate in the monthly face-to-face events don’t have to sign up in advance. The next chance to take part in this outreach is Thursday, October 23rd, from 9am to 3pm at the Wolfington Center on the third floor of Founder’s Hall.
