Every morning, we get up at 6 am, everyone shuffles through their morning routine and we leave our hotel by 7:45, on to the metro and every morning, we always arrive early to our site at 9 am.

Food & Friends is a well-oiled and finely crafted machine. It runs so smoothly, our inclusion on its track is almost effortless. We do different tasks most days and each we try to do with as much care as possible. The passion is almost palpable. Nearly, if not every, individual in this organization has the utmost respect and gratitude for their volunteers. I have been doing community service for years and I have never felt so welcome and so wanted before. When noon finally comes around, we all find ourselves wishing we could just stay a little bit longer.

Our first two days we did “expediting” or packing of meals into convenient bags for delivery. Today, we handled grocery-to-go which entails packing grocery bags of food specific to their clients. Food & Friends feeds people in the DC area as well as other counties in Maryland and Virginia that are within a reasonable distance. Approximately 74% of those clients fall below the poverty line and some will give their meals to their children so Food & Friends offers groceries that extends up to 4 dependents. Furthermore, they also offer 11 different diets to accommodate whatever is needed of them.

Today we handled exactly that, George explained everything perfectly and we got done early. One (more) thing I can say about them is just how much detail they give us when they explain the tasks we are given, it is obvious that they deal with volunteers often in fact a majority of their workforce is through volunteerism and several other groups were and will continue to work there with us. So you definitely get a sense that they know what they’re doing and that’s comforting.

After that we had the day to ourselves as usual and we spent it by first going to the Holocaust Museum, then a little bit of shopping though only by half of the group and ended the day (and night) with an amazing dinner at Busboys and Poets where we got not only delicious and affordable (by DC standards anyway) food but also the opportunity to watch Open-Mic night. The poets, singers, and rappers were all talented and a joy to watch in their own right and I am once again grateful to be in this city and with this great group of people.

- Sandra

Sunday March 13, 2011

Today was our first day in Washington DC! I think the 20 hour bus ride yesterday drained everyone a little bit, but we had a full night’s rest and ended up having lots of energy for today. We got to sleep and took our time in the morning figuring out the metro system. Eventually we made our way over to the National Zoo.

We got to see beautiful lions and tigers and elephants, etc but only one panda was out. And let me tell you, those pandas are not nearly as white as they look in photographs. Regardless, they are still adorable. After the zoo we walked a ways and had dinner at a small café. Dinner was a little quiet at first but we decided to go around the table and share with everyone our favorite color and a strange smell that we like. This definitely broke the ice and allowed us to ease into conversation. After dinner we walked toward Dupont Circle and got ice cream at Larry’s, a small, family owned joint with the best ice cream I have ever tasted. I was so surprised how easily how group meshed with one another. We only have nine people in our group so we luckily don’t need to split up when we eat, etc. It has only been one day and we already feel like a family. I can’t wait to see how the dynamic of our group continues through the week after we have continued our volunteer work. I think our bond will only grow stronger and I am so excited to be a part of something so special!

- Caitlyn