We Care Wednesday Provides Meals to Those in Need
Wednesday is the new Friday!
We Care Wednesday, a new program organized by the Center for Service and Social Justice (CSSJ) and EFFORT (Excess Food For Others Recovery Team), has added much needed positive energy to the middle of the week during the pandemic. The University community including over 40 students, the Leahy Community Health and Family Center, the CAS Dean’s Office and Advising Center, the Registrar’s Office, the Division of Information Technology and many faculty and staff members have given tremendous support to provide meals to those most in need in the Scranton area. In September, 240 grab-and-go meals were organized and distributed to local agencies including the Community Intervention Center in Scranton.
Faculty, staff and students generously donated money and spent time baking beautiful desserts, making salads and even organizing entire meals! Final preparations for each meal consisted of a team of CSSJ student workers as well as students who volunteered for one-hour shifts in small socially distant groups. What made the meals special were personal contributions, including cards with inspirational messages and homemade gifts like bracelets and keychains from students. So much was added to the grab-and-go meal that it soon became a meal bag that also included a variety of available snacks (cereal, fresh fruit, granola bars, etc.) and goodies (masks, paper products, hand sanitizer, etc.) collected by CSSJ and EFFORT.
“We Care Wednesday not only supports the local community but also provides meaningful in-person and virtual experiences for students. We are able to work together and engage in a service activity with faculty and staff that benefits individuals facing a reduction in resources due to the pandemic," said Liz Filachek '21, and occupational therapy major.
The program is such a huge success that the original plan of preparing five meals has doubled to 10 meals! The University community will provide 600 meals during the fall semester with our final holiday meal on Wednesday, Nov. 11, culminating with a delicious roast beef lunch. This meal will be sponsored by The Provost Council and Office. With the continued support of the University community, We Care Wednesday could benefit the local area, our students, staff and faculty throughout the academic year.
If you would like to be involved by providing food, a monetary donation or an item for the meal bag, contact Barbara King with CSSJ at 570-941-4138 or barbara.king@scranton.edu.