Our team had another great day. We began our day working in a community garden right next to a low income senior living apartment complex. They use the garden for fresh produce…the area we were in is what has known as a food desert because there are not any grocery stores in the immediate vicinity where people would have access to fresh vegetables or fruit. . we spent a couple of hours weeding and mulching in the garden.
We then went to a restaurant called Table Grace for lunch. It is a restaurant where people pay what they can or they can volunteer in the kitchen to earn their meal. One of the staff members shared her story with our group and it was very moving to hear how they were able to provide her with job skills as a volunteer that allowed her to gain employment. The restaurant has a job training program as well. The food was extremely well done… delicious and healthy.
We then spent the afternoon at Clare United Methodist Church in northern Omaha. This is a historically African American congregation and we were volunteering at their Leadership Academy, which is a summer program for children ages 3 through 16 ( the teenagers are helpers). Our group played with the kids and led a couple of crafts while some members of our team assisted the pastor with her computer lab. We had such a great experience and were so impressed with Pastor Portia and the Academy.
We then partnered with the church to serve a meal to their volunteers to thank those who had taught in their Vacation Bible Camp, Sunday School and who assist with the Academy. We had a great evening of fellowship with the congregation.
Everyone is very tired but every single person on the team worked so hard… Everyone was especially proud of the youth on our team who have just been incredibly hard workers at every point. It was a blessing to serve in the different places today and we’re looking forward to more opportunities tomorrow.
