Author: Aaron Fulk

Hey everyone!

Today was a great day of service! We began the day at 7:45 with an orientation where we learned about YSOP’s mission. We also learned about the missions of each of the sites we will be working at, as well as some general information on the people we will be working with. We were assigned to go to a program known as “The Wider Circle” which provides high quality refurbished materials to low-income families who have just purchased/acquired homes. In addition to furniture, there were also sections for house ware, toys and baby clothing. They have an upper dock which serves as an area to load up the clients’ vehicles with their new furniture. The lower dock receives the donated furniture which in turn is sorted into categories where it is inspected for cleanliness, functionality and damage. Colson, Connor, Brad, Kieran, Charlie and Ashray all were sent to load and unload. Once any given piece of furniture is deemed usable, it was given a red sticker which meant it was ready to take upstairs to the showroom. We had 5-6 truckloads full of stuff being donated as well as 7-8 trucks leaving with stuff for clients. After leaving Wider Circle, we returned home to the church. The walk from the warehouse to the metro station was roughly 1 mile and overall today we logged about 10.5 miles.

Hey everyone!

Today was a great day of service! We began the day at 7:45 with an orientation where we learned about YSOP’s mission. We also learned about the missions of each of the sites we will be working at, as well as some general information on the people we will be working with. We were assigned to go to a program known as “The Wider Circle” which provides high quality refurbished materials to low-income families who have just purchased/acquired homes. In addition to furniture, there were also sections for house ware, toys and baby clothing. They have an upper dock which serves as an area to load up the clients’ vehicles with their new furniture. The lower dock receives the donated furniture which in turn is sorted into categories where it is inspected for cleanliness, functionality and damage. Colson, Connor, Brad, Kieran, Charlie and Ashray all were sent to load and unload. Once any given piece of furniture is deemed usable, it was given a red sticker which meant it was ready to take upstairs to the showroom. We had 5-6 truckloads full of stuff being donated as well as 7-8 trucks leaving with stuff for clients. After leaving Wider Circle, we returned home to the church. The walk from the warehouse to the metro station was roughly 1 mile and overall today we logged about 10.5 miles.

We took the train to Washington D.C.  Once we got there, we took the metro to Church of the Epiphany, which is our headquarters for the week. After we dropped our bags off, we went to the Smithsonian National Zoo and walked around for 2 hours. The best part  of the zoo was Joe’s SWEET custom-made safari vest! He was also mistaken as a tour guide in his new vest. In the metro station, there was some trouble with the metro tickets (and also the train tickets too!).  After the zoo, we went to an authentic Mexican restaurant, which was mistaken by many as a pizza restaurant. When we got back to the church, we heard a heartfelt reading by the one and only Ms. Seay (check out her fan page on Facebook!) which encouraged us to think about the effect on us and others, and was only scratching the surface on our deep reflection. Ms. Seay cares deeply about one sentence, which we will think about each night before we “lay our pretty heads down”:  “You were sent to be nothing but a special mercy upon the world.” We’re getting ready to walk to the White House in the twilight, this misty dusk will surely make our journey valuable, but don’t worry, Joe will be wearing his vest in style with his bucket hat. We’re all exhausted, and will all sleep well!

From Allison:  Traveling is always exhausting. I think we will all sleep well tonight and we face an early morning tomorrow. I think one of my favorite moments today was seeing everyone this morning at the train station with their luggage and air mattresses.  There was something festive about it—even as we looked at the forecast and saw 90 degree weather for the next week.

I’m glad to be here—to get to know further some of the students I already know, and to meet and know some new kids as well.  As I type there is an intense game of something that looks like a cross between dodgeball and soccer.  And somewhere along the way somebody scored some starbursts and lollipops.

I think it will be a wonderful week. I am reading a new book called Hearing the Call Across Traditions: Readings on Faith and Service. It’s an anthology of readings including everyone from Ghandi to Mary Oliver, Abraham Lincoln to Thich Nhat Hanh; I’m especially drawn to the unique ways in which we will reflect on the complexity of service, and our call to act.  And I hope to share a lot of what I learn with the students in the evenings…

We took the train to Washington D.C.  Once we got there, we took the metro to Church of the Epiphany, which is our headquarters for the week. After we dropped our bags off, we went to the Smithsonian National Zoo and walked around for 2 hours. The best part  of the zoo was Joe’s SWEET custom-made safari vest! He was also mistaken as a tour guide in his new vest. In the metro station, there was some trouble with the metro tickets (and also the train tickets too!).  After the zoo, we went to an authentic Mexican restaurant, which was mistaken by many as a pizza restaurant. When we got back to the church, we heard a heartfelt reading by the one and only Ms. Seay (check out her fan page on Facebook!) which encouraged us to think about the effect on us and others, and was only scratching the surface on our deep reflection. Ms. Seay cares deeply about one sentence, which we will think about each night before we “lay our pretty heads down”:  “You were sent to be nothing but a special mercy upon the world.” We’re getting ready to walk to the White House in the twilight, this misty dusk will surely make our journey valuable, but don’t worry, Joe will be wearing his vest in style with his bucket hat. We’re all exhausted, and will all sleep well!

From Allison:  Traveling is always exhausting. I think we will all sleep well tonight and we face an early morning tomorrow. I think one of my favorite moments today was seeing everyone this morning at the train station with their luggage and air mattresses.  There was something festive about it—even as we looked at the forecast and saw 90 degree weather for the next week.

I’m glad to be here—to get to know further some of the students I already know, and to meet and know some new kids as well.  As I type there is an intense game of something that looks like a cross between dodgeball and soccer.  And somewhere along the way somebody scored some starbursts and lollipops.

I think it will be a wonderful week. I am reading a new book called Hearing the Call Across Traditions: Readings on Faith and Service. It’s an anthology of readings including everyone from Ghandi to Mary Oliver, Abraham Lincoln to Thich Nhat Hanh; I’m especially drawn to the unique ways in which we will reflect on the complexity of service, and our call to act.  And I hope to share a lot of what I learn with the students in the evenings…

Today on the first day we rode up on the bus with Mr. Fulk and Sid Negus. We left early and got to the church where we are staying earlier then the train group.  It was a struggle to find a parking spot and from there Sid, Mr. Fulk, Charlie, and I carried all of the bags upstairs. Since we were first we got to choose where we put our beds and get comfortable. We were informed that we would be going to the zoo, so we were excited. The zoo was fun, but it was very hot and Joe bought a vest! We saw cheetahs, lions, and anacondas to name a few. 

After the zoo, we ate dinner at California Tortilla. After dinner Mr. Fulk took a squadron of kids to the super market to carry all the food so he didn’t have to. While there we also purchased some candy. We trudged on back to the metro and walked back to the church. We then reflected on service, and what it means to serve. A good point made during the reflection, was that while serving that some people may feel selfish but there is a difference between feeling good while serving and serving to feel good. We plan to walk to the White House in a few minutes.

Today on the first day we rode up on the bus with Mr. Fulk and Sid Negus. We left early and got to the church where we are staying earlier then the train group.  It was a struggle to find a parking spot and from there Sid, Mr. Fulk, Charlie, and I carried all of the bags upstairs. Since we were first we got to choose where we put our beds and get comfortable. We were informed that we would be going to the zoo, so we were excited. The zoo was fun, but it was very hot and Joe bought a vest! We saw cheetahs, lions, and anacondas to name a few. 

After the zoo, we ate dinner at California Tortilla. After dinner Mr. Fulk took a squadron of kids to the super market to carry all the food so he didn’t have to. While there we also purchased some candy. We trudged on back to the metro and walked back to the church. We then reflected on service, and what it means to serve. A good point made during the reflection, was that while serving that some people may feel selfish but there is a difference between feeling good while serving and serving to feel good. We plan to walk to the White House in a few minutes.