Follow the Yellow Brick Road

Weekly Project Journal

Each week of the project, student must submit a project journal entry. The journal entry consists of three parts:

1. Description. What happened in your project this week? What did you do? Experience?

All I did this week for project was write Chapter 7 and Appendix - it didn't take too long nor was it that difficult.

2. Interpretation. What did you learn from your project this week? About the project? About the issue? About yourself?

Because I really didn't do that much (there wasn't much to be done) I didn't really learn that much. I did solidify (again) in my head when writing my contingency plans that it was better to work towards long term solutions as opposed to short term solutions- so many more options to work for instead of just meal by meal type of deal.

I also learned about myself that although I really enjoyed this project, I'm ready for it to be over. Making myself focus and actually write the last chapter took more effort than I was originally thinking it would.

3. Evaluation. How would you evaluate your work on the project this week? What grade would you give yourself? Are you accomplishing the objectives of the project? Your personal objectives?

I would give myself a C. I think I did well on the paper, but I definitely don't feel as good about the motivation and thought process that I did for the other chapters. But I'm getting really close to the end/being done, and making it this far with sanity was definitely high on my list

Weekly Project Journal

I did nothing for project this week; all I did in relation to Honors was prepare for midterm because I have reached the minimum requirement of hours and completed my on-site visits.

Weekly Project Journal

Each week of the project, student must submit a project journal entry. The journal entry consists of three parts:

1. Description. What happened in your project this week? What did you do? Experience?

This was my last week of on-site visits. I did the usual activity (desk work) but there was really no filing to be done this time, so I actually did hw on the lulls because it was pretty slow. It was really sweet though, because the people I were working with knew it was my last day, so they got me a little bag of SHH artifacts and got some muffins for everybody to eat - it was a really nice way to say goodbye.

In addition to on-site activity, I did a lot of work on chapters 3-6; writing them, editing them, etc. That was a large part of my spring break - joy. So it goes.

2. Interpretation. What did you learn from your project this week? About the project? About the issue? About yourself?

I really enjoyed volunteering at SHH - they're a really neat organization that's run really, really well, and they really do make a difference in people's lives. I'm very thankful that I got to be there for awhile.

In addition, I learned a lot about my project and the issue of hunger and food insecurity when writing the chapters. Organizing all the data and interviews and forming opinions about what I learned and how they could apply was really helpful. In addition, I really enjoyed this project because it helped me make some decisions about what I would like to do with the rest of my life.

3. Evaluation. How would you evaluate your work on the project this week? What grade would you give yourself? Are you accomplishing the objectives of the project? Your personal objectives?

I would give myself an A for these past two combined weeks; not only did I do on-site work, but I put a lot of time into writing chapters and forming opinions. As the project draws to a close, I feel that I have accomplished the objectives of the project and of my own.

Weekly Project Journal

Each week of the project, student must submit a project journal entry. The journal entry consists of three parts:

1. Description. What happened in your project this week? What did you do? Experience?

Essentially, I did the same thing I always did: go to site, sign in clients, and organize files when there are lulls or low points; what I do more of really depends on the day and the weather. Typically, the most clients come towards the beginning/middle of the month - weather dependent. Since about ¾ of the clients are senior citizens, they will not drive in bad weather. So Wednesday, for example, was super busy - and Thursday (because it had snowed the night before and roads weren't the best) it was incredibly slow (I actually left 30 minutes early because no one was coming).

However, with all these lulls, I was able to finish cleaning out the files! Yeah!

I did, however, spend a substantial amount of time this week preparing outlines for the chapters.

2. Interpretation. What did you learn from your project this week? About the project? About the issue? About yourself?

I really didn't learn that much from site this week. Like I said, it was rather slow. It's always interesting to watch the different people, with their different backgrounds and different attitudes, but I didn't observe anything new this week that I haven't already written about.

Learned information regarding my project in doing comprehensive outlines - how I want to lay final chapters out and the main points I want to get across.

3. Evaluation. How would you evaluate your work on the project this week? What grade would you give yourself? Are you accomplishing the objectives of the project? Your personal objectives?

I would give myself an A. I went on-site and also did the reached my goal in completing detailed outlines for chapters 3-6 - thereby accomplishing objectives of project and personal.

Weekly Project Journal

Each week of the project, student must submit a project journal entry. The journal entry consists of three parts:

1. Description. What happened in your project this week? What did you do? Experience?

This week (again) I worked at the desk and did file organization. Two things that were different though and worth mentioning.

First, since I work Wednesdays' and Thursdays' this semester (instead of Wednesdays' and Fridays' like I did last semester) I work with different volunteers, who run things a bit differently. The new volunteers that I work with put together a cardboard box of greens, or goodies, or bread, (or other extra fun commodities) and puts them in the room for the people to pick out for themselves. Then, after they get picked through, he puts more out. This way, he can keep on eye on one person taking way more than they need and not leaving any for anybody else and also put out a good variety while letting people pick for themselves and take what they want.

Second, I encountered a sad story today. A senior woman was signing in today, and when I asked her how she was, she said it was a hard month: when I looked up she had burst into tears! I felt so bad for her - she said it was because her medicine had gone up $97 and this was the only food that she'd be getting for the entire month (p.s. this is a supplemental food program - not a substitute). When I told the volunteer after she had left, he said there was a man who had come in a couple weeks before who said he had only had candy bars for a week because there was no food in the house. Those stories make me sad

2. Interpretation. What did you learn from your project this week? About the project? About the issue? About yourself?

Well, my question about nutrition got solidified. Some of these people look like they eat a lot (overweight) but it's really because they don't eat healthy - they eat cheap, unhealthy food (like candy). In addition, how much people rely on the program and for how long was also solidified - since they have a fixed income, they stay on it, and some of them desperately need it. About myself: I feel bad when someone is crying and there is nothing I can do. I talked to my mom, whose going to talk go my dad (a physician) who says there are a lot of sites and organizations that people who have really expensive medications should know about because they could get them for cheaper (i.e. merely switching prescriptions from Cub to Wal-Mart; i.e. $34 to $4). So hopefully I'll get that information and pass it on.

3. Evaluation. How would you evaluate your work on the project this week? What grade would you give yourself? Are you accomplishing the objectives of the project? Your personal objectives?

I would give myself an A- this week. I think I'm learning and solidifying things in my head about the project and personal objectives. However, I'm not nearly as far on the chapters as I would like to be - so I need to get working on that this weekend...but I'm not sure if it's going to happen. Hence, a minus.

Weekly Project Journal

Each week of the project, student must submit a project journal entry. The journal entry consists of three parts:

1. Description. What happened in your project this week? What did you do? Experience?

Well, I did less project hours this past week, but the hours spent working on project were more diverse. I met with Professor Rock for about 30 minutes just to go over the remaining chapters and get some direction on where I should be going and bounce some general ideas back and forth to see if I was on the right track. In addition, I conducted two more interviews at Second Harvest Heartland (one from the woman who is manages all the programs [like the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, backpack program, etc] and one from the man who is the VP of the food bank operations [transportations, ware house, etc]). In addition, I went on-site and did regular desk work and file organization - I did not go two days this week due to the frigid temperatures and my fear of my car stalling.

2. Interpretation. What did you learn from your project this week? About the project? About the issue? About yourself?

I'm discovering how helpful interviewing is; after working there for awhile I have a general picture of what goes on and can ask questions that are sometimes specific, but also in a much more comprehensive, thereby pulling everything together in order to see trends and results from the people who work there and know the answers. Plus, their opinions are really valuable and by personal communication the information that they relate to me stays in my head for much longer.

From the interviews, I learned some more interesting things about the problem of hunger and the project itself:
• Food received from manufactures mistakes is where they get a lot of their food - in order to meet the increasing demand, that's where they see themselves as getting more food from.
• It is individuals who give 80% of SHH donations
• Are partners with organizations that work to eliminate poverty
• Some people/organizations really rely on programs - others have help from elsewhere
• Every state, county, and parish is covered by the national network that SHH is a part of - they're pretty much it.
o Others do great work, but don't have the reach or the exposure.
• Differences between SHH and other federally funded programs/national networks
• The reasons why people work in non-profit
• Issue of impossibility of really ever "eradicating" hunger
o Limitations to how much they can address and what they can do with funds and programs - in addition to the problem of poverty which is the root cause of hunger

3. Evaluation. How would you evaluate your work on the project this week? What grade would you give yourself? Are you accomplishing the objectives of the project? Your personal objectives?

I would give myself around a B. I went on-site and conducted interviews and such, but I really needed to start getting some outlines written for the last chapters. Sadly, just haven't found the time - but that needs to be taken care of soon. I would like to be able to do a good job on this last part so I can actually really learn something as opposed to just working on it to get it done - it's too good of a project for that.

Weekly Project Journal

Each week of the project, student must submit a project journal entry. The journal entry consists of three parts:

1. Description. What happened in your project this week? What did you do? Experience?

As usual, I worked at data entry. But in addition this week, I did some file organization - I was cleaning them out (getting rid of sheets where applicants were no longer a part of the program). Also, I started my interviews (which was absolutely wonderful, but I won't write about it this week, because I have more next week).

There were a couple of things that I took more specific notice of this week as I worked at the desk of the CSFP.

Awhile back, one of the volunteers commented how certain ethnic groups tended to take more than others; he was right. SHH sometimes puts out boxes of extra food that clients can take in plastic bags if they wish to; last week there was a whole box full of apples. One client asked how many apples he could take, and I said a lot (I've picked up that response from the other volunteers who work there)- without my knowing it, he filled his entire plastic bag with all the apples from the cardboard box. Hmmmm...not quite what I meant...

It is interesting though, because some ask, and some just take. Some do it rather sneakily, some openly say they don't want to be greedy, but then take more than I think they'll possibly be able to eat before it goes bad. Interesting side note though: I always feel more inclined to give more to those who more discreetly ask for it than those who openly try to push for more and more food (I think the other volunteers feel the same way).

To avoid people taking more than necessary, the volunteer that I work with keeps the extras in back and brings out samples. He'll ask the client if they could use some of this or some of that, and then he'll put together a box for them. It works really well, because then they get a variety and it's more evenly distributed. Plus, when it's not as busy, you can spend more time on one car instead of rushing things through. The people who volunteer there are extremely generous though - they really give away liberal amounts of food - which is good because people are hungry.

Regardless of how much they take though, everyone is very grateful (some repeatedly express gratitude by multiple, multiple thank yous). Some actually are even quite conversational - while they're waiting they'll sit there and talk to me. More often than not we talk about the weather; mostly because it's really cold and how much can you really talk about in two minutes? But if they mention something about kids or grandkids I'll ask questions and such; I know from watching my mom that grandma's love talking about their grandkids.

One thing that I'm interested in asking about during interviews is how much the clients rely on the food they receive. Many of the people who come in for the elderly program are overweight; my guess is that SHH works to give nutritious food so people don't fill up on the cheap, unhealthy stuff that will eventually cause problems. We'll see...

2. Interpretation. What did you learn from your project this week? About the project? About the issue? About yourself?

The observations from the desk were helpful just in piecing together some information and helping to form more questions - but a lot of the learning came from the two interviews. Questions were answered about short and long term programs, effectiveness of programs, causes behind the problem, possible solutions, steps to take, the changing of stereotypes (how they no longer exist) and gave insight to the complexity of issues (like the trickle and spiral effect). Plus, it was nice to talk to some people and get some advice.

Weekly Project Journal

Each week of the project, student must submit a project journal entry. The journal entry consists of three parts:

1. Description. What happened in your project this week? What did you do? Experience?

Well, it was over a month ago that I went, so I don't really remember particulars. However, it was pretty much the same as normal: entry pick-up data into the computer for the CSFP. Since it a really short time (only 4 hours) I didn't really do or experience that much.

2. Interpretation. What did you learn from your project this week? About the project? About the issue? About yourself?

Again, I really didn't learn much. It was my last day at school and I was just really anxious to get home.

3. Evaluation. How would you evaluate your work on the project this week? What grade would you give yourself? Are you accomplishing the objectives of the project? Your personal objectives?

Probably a C. I only did four hours because I'm not behind and I just had some extra time that week so I thought I could just put in a few hours - but I really wasn't that into it and I don't remember accomplishing that much out of the norm. And, seeing that this is a catch-up journal, again, not really putting in that much effort.

Weekly Project Journal

1. Description. What happened in your project this week? What did you do? Experience?

My project was really rather boring this week: essentially all I did was file. Every time someone is re-certified, or joins the program, they have to fill out a form. This form then has to be processed by the people working there, and then all these forms make a really big pile. A volunteer (this week me) comes in and organizes them according to program (MACS or NAPS) and then by last name into huge folders. So yeah, fairly boring, but it needs to be done.

2. Interpretation. What did you learn from your project this week? About the project? About the issue? About yourself?

Apparently they have a volunteer who regularly files, but they had back surgery so they hadn't been there in awhile - so they were behind; hence it felt like an endless job and I was nowhere near completion.

I really didn't learn much about the project itself this week, but I did learn something about myself: I don't ever want to file for hours on end. Ever. I like volunteering how I normally volunteer (because that's interaction with people) and it's a really good start into things, but I'm definitely capable of more than that and I learned that about myself; I want to help, yes, but I want to do more than just small tasks that help (kinda what we were talking about in class with Callings: I don't want to put on one bolt on the whole machine - I want to be designing the machine).

3. Evaluation. How would you evaluate your work on the project this week? What grade would you give yourself? Are you accomplishing the objectives of the project? Your personal objectives?

I'd give myself a B this week. I was pretty wiped out after chapter 2, so I wasn't really that focused on-site (however, how much focus does it really take to file?). But I was kinda tired and probably didn't work as quickly or as cheerfully as I should have. This week, I really don't feel like I accomplished to much regarding the objectives of the project or my personal goals (nothing I could really do though, I just work where they tell me to work), but I did learn some important things about myself.

Weekly Project Journal

1. Description. What happened in your project this week? What did you do? Experience?

This week was fairly similar to last - my routine really doesn't change that much: enter data, load food, and bag/organize food in loading area. Sadly, this Friday we ran out of extras. Everybody always gets their box of food, but they also typically hand out bread, dairy, and some sort of fruit or vegetable. Sadly, by about 11:30am on Friday they had run out of all the extras, only the boxes were left. Although people were disappointed, none of them got angry, which was nice - most still smiled, and said "Okay, no worries, not your fault".

2. Interpretation. What did you learn from your project this week? About the project? About the issue? About yourself?

I made a couple of new observations this week that I would like to investigate more. You really can't tell a person who is in need by their appearance; sometimes people look like they are poor and are in need (dirty clothes, missing teeth, beat-up cars, etc), but others you wouldn't be able to tell (dressed well, drive decent cars, well kept, etc). Maybe some can afford it more than others, maybe some put up more of an appearance than others - I don't really know.
A couple of other things were of note about the clients. Quite a few people who came in were overweight, which is interesting because the common assumption is that people don't have enough to eat. Although this requires more research, I'm assuming people are overweight because they're not eating nutritiously, since nutrition is one of the big points of SHH (especially for children, I think). Secondly, it's interesting because the proxies (people who are okayed by clients to pick up food for them) sometimes look very well off. To me, that's a comfort because it means people are getting out of the cycle of poverty. And, finally, it's funny because a lot of the seniors take extra (like chocolate milk) for their grandkids.
Regarding the volunteers, their approach to the distribution of goods is interesting. Two volunteers that work together give away as much as they possibly can to one person. It's different than what I do, which is to try to even it out - some to this, some to that - then more people can get them. Don't know which philosophy is better - maybe it really doesn't make a difference - don't know.

3. Evaluation. How would you evaluate your work on the project this week? What grade would you give yourself? Are you accomplishing the objectives of the project? Your personal objectives?

Probably a B. I did my on-site work and everything, but due to the massive amount of work that I have due for other classes because of Thanksgiving break and opening of Into the Woods, I really haven't put a whole ton of time into it for Chapter 2 or additional research.