Day 4

APPLES DAY 4

Friends,

Last night was our first full night of sleep. Although we did not have to stay up for three hours in the middle of the night at the Central Homeless Shelter, I miss watching TV and listening to jokes from my shelter buddies.

Today was different; we performed indirect service by inspecting, arranging, packaging, and weighing donated food at The Atlanta Community Food Bank -the largest food bank in the country. I was so proud of the spirit and energy in every APPLES participant. It was that energy and passion for service that led to package 72,076 lbs. of food, which is equivalent to 4,850 meals! I learned that through teamwork, dedication, and a well-run system, a couple of hours in a day can make such a huge difference in the community.

Aside from sorting food, we also received a Hunger 101 workshop -the food bank's educational program. The simulation we went through put us in the situation of a person who had limited resources, transportation problems, and financial complications. By lightly being in the shoes of someone that's going through such circumstances, I realized that small actions can be extremely stressful and complicated. This interactive experience was very thought-provoking and I hope future APPLES groups have a chance to experience this as well.

The Atlanta Community Food Bank was a great place to volunteer and I definitely recommend this to anyone! If you're interested in volunteering or receiving a Hunger 101 workshop, check out the food bank's website below:

http://www.acfb.org/

Best,

Christie Lainez