CAMPUS FEATURES September 8,2005 4
More Than Soup
SUZIE POTTER
Staff Writer
Last Friday, my roommate,
Ashley, and I received an e-
mai! from Sam Carothers,
the campus minister. He told
us he was looking for volun
teers to help out at the local
soup kitchen for a couple of
hours. We didn’t have any
other pressing engagements,
so the two of us decided to
go along and help out.
The experience was very
different from what we were
expecting. Besides Ashley
and me, only two other girls
from Meredith went. We had
expected to feel awkward
and out of place, but it was
not like that at all.
When we arrived at the
large downtown church that
is the home of Raleigh’s
soup kitchen, we had aprons
thrust at us. After tying them
on, we only had a few sec
onds before the hungry start
ed pouring in.
In those few seconds, the
woman over the soup kitch
en shared some profound
words with us.
She said, “These people
have made some mistakes
and taken some wrong turns
in their lives, but they are still
people, just like us. Make
them feel special. They are
our guests today.”
With those words tucked
away in our minds, we began
to serve.
All sorts of people strag
gled in. There were many
older people and adults, but
what shocked us were the
kids our age. Many of them
smiled and talked with us,
but others shyly avoided eye
contact and merely pointed
at the food they wanted. At
that moment, I felt so grate
ful for everything that I had
and so guilty for complain
ing about dining hall food.
When the crowd had started
to die down, Ashley and I
walked around and passed
out the leftover sandwiches.
In the middle of this, a few
latecomers wandered in,
and the people who were
already eating insisted we
give these sandwiches to the
people who had just arrived.
This amazed me. These peo
ple who were hungry and
had nothing were willing
to share, and were actually
looking out for the people
around them.
I learned a lot that Friday
afternoon. I realize people
always say the same cliche
things about volunteering—
that it makes them feel good,
and they love giving back,
and all that, so I won’t even
bother going into it. You’ve
heard it all before. What I
will say is that volunteering
is an enriching experience. It
helps you to see another way
of life and to be thankful
for all that you have. It also
reminds you that we are all
people, regardless of where
we live or what we do.
I feel like my smile and my
willingness to serve made
a small difference to some
body that day. The great
thing is I do not have to be
at a soup kitchen to do it.
You can make a huge differ
ence in a person’s life just by
smiling at them when you
see them heading to class or
by asking them how they are
doing and really listening to
the answer.
Volunteering is wonderful,
but it is how we treat people
everyday that really matters.
So, today, take a minute to
talk to that girl in your calcu
lus class who sits by herself,
or smile at somebody who
looks a little stressed. It will
not kill you, and it might just
make you a better person.
For information on volun
teering at the soup kitchen,
contact Sam Carrothers at
carrotherss@meredith.edu
Zing!
Do you have a life? Are you happy? Often, people seek happiness in all the wrong places.
Join nationally recognized motivational speaker, author and educator Nancy Hunter Denney
for an engaging interactive session designed to demonstrate the many benefits of using your
“aptitude to show your gratitude.”
Based on the book, How to Zing Your Life and Leadership,
by Nancy Hunter Denney
Nancy Hunter Denney will be at Meredith College on
Wednesday, September 14
7:00-9:00pm
Ledford 101
Open to all students!
Participants will get a chance to win a copy of the book.
This is a Sloan Family Student Leadership Program
Sponsored by Student Activities and Leadership Development.
202 Cate Center - 760-8338
For more information about Nancy Hunter Denney:
www.nancyhunterdenney.com
Join the 2005
LeaderShape®
participants for a
Viii(y¥iSh0\i}0(m
Drop by Kresge Auditorium
on Thursday, Sept. 8th and
Friday, Sept. 9th fronj
8:00 am-5:00 pm
and see the visions of the
2005 LeaderShape® Institute
participants!
The
iD Staff
Editor in Chief. Maria Sant ore
herald@meredith.edu
Managing Editor. Amber Littesy
Layout Editors. Megan Rice
Jamie Lee
Copy Editor. Amy Kay Nickerson
Rita Hendrick
Staff Photographers Laura Marshall
Terri Richards
Business Manager. Stephanie Harrington
Faculty Adviser. Dr. Rebecca Duncan
Staff Writers;
Melinda Bowling Rachel McElwain
Breguita Rogers Emelia Dunston
Suzie Potter Joy Strickland
Mackenzie Lyons
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