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This
student-run program is designed to match volunteers with service
opportunities in the Hays area. Sponsored by the Student Government
Association, the Center for Civic Leadership, and the Office
of Student Affairs, Tigers in Service is a clearinghouse for
students with a desire to participate in community service
activities. |
December 2007: LoveLink Ministries Oklahoma City, OK
On Sunday, December 16th, 22 Tigers in Service volunteers jumped into three FHSU vans and headed toward Oklahoma. They arrived at Bethany First Church of the Nazarene in Bethany, Oklahoma Sunday evening ready for five days worth of service to LoveLink Ministries in OKC. |
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| Love Link Ministries Inc. |
LoveLink Ministries was born in 1991 in Oklahoma City, OK. LoveLink provides social services to the poor and homeless. They have five main entities through which they provide services; the church, the recovery houses, thrift store, craft shop and food pantry. The latest goal for LoveLink is to merge the thrift store, food pantry and craft shop into an enormous old warehouse (NuWay) the team recently purchased. This is where TIS came in... |
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After a quick tour of LoveLink's facilities on Monday morning, the TIS volunteers were itching to get to work! After lunch, the 22 FHSU students were split into two groups. One stayed in the main area of NuWay to clean and organize the large amount of items donated to LoveLink, and the other headed to the other side of the building to the "new thrift shop". While the first group was setting up a few displays and rummaging through the huge piles, the second began the challenging task of gutting and cleaning the new thrift shop. The
demolition
began, and by the end of the week, the new thrift shop was ready for a good clean up and to be opened for business in the upcoming months. TIS split up into other teams throughout the week also. Each day, a new set of TIS volunteers went to the old thrift shop and food pantry to assist the LoveLink crew in distributing the monthly food items and cleaning up some things on the property. One of our dexterous volunteers even fixed the plumbing! Yet another group helped at NuWay by emptying a 40ft. long freezer, organizing the foods, then putting them back into the freezer. Needless to say this group was a little chilly! |
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TIS volunteers were given the wonderful opportunity to serve 400 poor and homeless people of Oklahoma, a Christmas dinner on the Thursday before Christmas. TIS helped by setting up tables before the dinner, decorating the tables, helping organize the prepared food in an assembly line, serving the food, distributing gifts, collecting used dishes, cleaning the kitchen, cleaning and clearing the tables and mopping the floor. Thursday night's dinner was a wonderful and memorable experience for every TIS volunteer! |
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| Friday, TIS journeyed back to Hays with smiles on their faces and new memories that will last a lifetime. All the volunteers came out of the week with a new perspective of life outside of FHSU's walls and an energized attitude about helping others! A BIG THANKS to Wendy's for donating many food goods and silverware, the RedCross for donating first aid items and water bottles, Bethany First Chruch of the Nazarene for our stay in OK for the week, and to LoveLink Ministries for adopting the TIS family into their own for a week. As always, thanks to Student Government and also to the wonderful and energetic TIS volunteers. This trip would have never happened without YOU! |
Reflections: Volunteers' Firsthand Accounts
"It was my first Alternative break, but it's a memory that has changed my life. If I have a bad day or get down I just think of the less fortunate people I met and how I gave them a inspiring look on what life can bring to you if you get your life in order. I met some of the nicest people on this trip and we all brought different things to the trip that made it really successful"
~Sophomore Tiffany Robben
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AWB was amazing. Going into it, I was a little nervous not knowing anyone going on the trip. But that was instantly changed. Everyone was so friendly and fun that I had a blast right away. The days that I was there flew by and it felt wonderful to be doing something good for others. I am so glad that I took the time to go to Oklahoma this year!!
~Junior Chelsea Wirtz |
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"This was my first Alternative Break. Thing that amazed me on this trip was the amount work that we did as a group. It would have taken the people at LoveLink a few months to get done what we did in 4 days of work. Getting the chance to see and interact with the Homeless was on eye opening experience that has made me thankful for all that I have in my life. I’d learned even the simplest selfless act of kindness can and does make difference in people’s lives. This Alternative Break trip was such tremendously awesome experience for myself or for anyone that could ever go on one these trips. I wish everyone that is out there to take time to go on a trip like this when you get the chance."
~Senior Chelsey Weber
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