By Ilana Williams
Spots filled up fast to help feed the families of D.C. at Terps Against Hunger’s interfaith service project on Tuesday, March 8.
Volunteers packed and sealed 12,000 meals with dried foods, like protein and vegetables that can be mixed with water, into bags that are ready to ship to the Capital Area Food Bank. Each bag contains about 390-400 grams of food.
Before volunteers packed the food, they listened to panelists talk about what community service means and its significance in different religions.
“I actually learned a lot listening to the Muslim representative about service in Islam,” Emily Weis, a junior public health science major and co-president of Terps Against Hunger, said in an email.
Dominic Tolentino, a senior health science major, is the team manager of Terps of Hunger. At the event, he packed the boxes and loaded them into the truck.
“I’m doing it to help the community,” Tolentino said. “Just be out there [and] meet new people.”
Jessica Stanley, a freshman letters and science student from Connecticut said that she volunteered frequently in high school. The interfaith service project was a way for her to be part of a group in Maryland.
“I come from near towns that usually need community service,” Stanley said. “This campus is somewhat sheltered from other places in Maryland that really need help.”
Stanley said she does not identify as being a religious person, but that does not change her views on community service.
“Community service is good for anybody,” Stanley said. “Anybody can join it, but I think it’s nice that it also creates a cube of community within a religion.”
Ethan Noeick, a freshman letters and science student, came to the event with his friends in Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity.
“It seemed like a good cause,” Noeick said.
Tamar Fineberg, a freshman psychology major, received an email from Maryland Hillel with the opportunity to volunteer on campus, which sparked her interest.
“I saw [this event] and thought ‘why not?’” Fineberg said. “It’s important to give back to the less fortunate and not get caught up in your own privilege.”
During her trips to Israel, she volunteers at Pantry Packers, a food distribution sector of Colel Chabad who feed the needy in Israel and volunteered at a children’s home over the summer.
“Events like these are important because it brings together people from all walks of life,” Weis said. “[It] shows how we all can find common ground in something that benefits the community.”
Featured image: Volunteers organize dried foods that can be rehydrated using hot water at the Terps Against Hunger interfaith service event on March 8. The food will be shipped to the Capital Area Food Bank. Photo by Ilana Williams.