Supporting Community Outreach at the University United Methodist Church

On Saturday, February 20, students from HNR 100 participated in civic engagement with the University United Methodist Church outreach program. UUMC is committed to social justice and environmental stewardship and provides services and programs to support the needs of the city’s near eastside neighborhood. The UUMC outreach program maintains a clothes closet and food pantry to help meet basic needs in a dignified manner.

Honors students from Syracuse University worked with UUMC staff to help with three specific projects: (1) packing emergency food bags; (2) organizing personal care kits; and (3) preparing professional wardrobes for job interviewees. Along with basic food items, the pantry provides emergency food bags, containing enough food for three basic meals to help people facing an emergency or crisis. Students worked to prepare personal care kits, which are in high need because toiletry items (e.g., soap, toothpaste, deodorant, etc.) cannot be purchased with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (aka, food stamps). Finally, students worked to organize professional wardrobes for people needing business attire for job interviews. UUMC maintains a clothes closet and works with job readiness programs to provide professional clothing to individuals working to secure employment.

Thanks in part to the efforts of students in the Honors Program, many of our fellow community members will be able to meet their basic nutritional needs, maintain personal hygiene, and better prepare themselves for future work opportunities. Students enjoyed the opportunity to participate in meaningful civic engagement, learned a great deal in the process about food insecurity and related barriers to personal care, and are proud of their efforts to support the greater Syracuse community.