Understanding the Homeless Population of LA

Mason Giem, UM Campus Corps member, talks about his experiences on the winter alternative breaks trip to Los Angeles.

We had a panel of people come to our house and tell us their stories. Bobby was the first person who spoke, and he had a lot to say about the importance of making connections with the homeless. When he was homeless, one thing that offended him was when people would give him money and not look him in the eye. He suggested to share a sandwich with a homeless person rather than just buying them one. What a great idea, of course I would want to sit down with them and hear their story. I asked him how I might better motivate my peers to care about someone other than themselves, and he said it was important to lead by example: "It's easier to pull a chain than it is to push a chain".

The people I met in the shelter exuded a positive energy that was infectious. I walked out of those shelters feeling that everything is going to be OK, that not everyone is greedy, selfish or ignorant. LA tries to take care of it's people. They're amazing. I know not everybody in LA is like that, but today I really did see the city of angels!

Making an American dream come true for families in the Flathead Valley

A Story by FVCC Campus Corps member Gale Marguerite:

Make a Difference Day on Saturday, October 25, 2008. Partnering with Habitat for Humanity, a wonderful group of volunteers from United Way, Flathead Valley Community College Campus Corps and Glacier Bank, worked on the interiors of three houses for low-income families.

The autumn day brought sunshine as three families excitedly welcomed the volunteers when they arrived to begin their day of service. The children of the families danced from room-to-room remarking things like "This is my bedroom and I got to pick out the color!" The feeling of gratitude was contagious as everyone realized what it meant for these families to become first-time homeowners.

Saws, brushes, hammers and screwdrivers were busy at work as 20 volunteers installed lighting and flooring, painted one room and then the next, uncovered the concrete driveways and cleaned up the work areas. The to-do list was endless, however, much was accomplished in just an eight hour day as the volunteers and the families compassionately came together to build a house.

At the end of the day, 'thank you' came in the form of smiles, hugs and sincere gratitude for the gift of volunteered time and making a difference in these lives. The three families moved into their homes just in time for Thanksgiving. With a smile, I fondly think about Make a Difference Day as I remember how one single day made a significant difference in the lives of three families. .