On Friday, April 29, students from class ventured to the corners of Irving Park/Damen/Lincoln and Irving Park/Western to assist Misericordia volunteers with the Candy Days fundraiser. Volunteers walk around the intersections during red lights to solicit donations from stopped cars. Donors receive some Jelly Belly jelly beans and a hang-tag to support Misericordia. Here are some thoughts from Brittany Parker and Thien Han...
In case you need a refresher, here's the link to our first post explaining what is posted to the blog. And without further adieu, here are some thoughts from Brittany Parker and Thien Han on their experience with their new elderly friends...
Brittany Parker
Misericordia is a home for mentally unstable people. The employees that work for this organization have many jobs, and people raise money by walking around intersections. I don’t know how these people walk in the street, back and forth, for many hours straight. I was sweating and my legs were hurting for walking around for two hours. However, walking back and forth down the street collecting money from those that would give whatever they could give was fun. I actually felt like I was helping.
Every time someone donated money, I started smiling so bright because it made me so happy that they were giving money for a great cause. I think people donated to me mostly because I was walking down the street singing “We are the World” by Michael Jackson. People either smiled at me and gave money, or just smiled, or just pretended like they didn’t see me. That made me so mad because I know you saw me see you, so don’t pretend like you’re looking on your phone. One of my peers reminded me to not show anger because then they won’t donate.
How did it feel when I was ignored? It felt like I didn’t matter because even though it was for a great cause, people acted like it wasn’t worth their time by ignoring us. Maybe I’m being very sensitive but this is how I felt. I understand if people don’t have money but we’re not asking for a lot. A measly penny would’ve been enough. It’s the fact that people cared enough to contribute.
That is what’s wrong with the world today. People are too careless and then they have the nerve to complain about how our society is and how the world is chaotic. If you don’t contribute or do anything to help make the world a better place then you have no room to complain. This is similar to people that don’t vote. They always complain about Mayors, Senators, Presidents, and other things that consist of voting. Then they have the nerve to complain about who the winner is when they didn’t even contribute their duty of voting. If people can’t put forth something to help out people in need then they should have no right to complain about it, it’s hypocritical.
How do we act? What would God call us to do? What needs to be done is being able to give anything that you can to help out others in need. Anyone can help out doesn’t matter if you only have a little to give or a lot to give because any little thing is helpful. We can volunteer, donate, or we can do both. People in Misericordia are marginalized because of their conditions but that’s something they just can’t help. They need our help in order to be apart of society. Either way people must reach into their hearts and find the will to want to help because if not, then what's the point?
Thien Han
There are people in Misericordia, where they help people with developmental disabilities, community support, etc. We were helping Misericordia to raise money by asking for donation from the drivers who stop at the intersection between Irving Park and Western. We have to wear a thing that looks like a bag with a hole at the bottom and the sides have been cut, but it looks cute and cool - it has two pockets in the front to put jelly bean bags in one and the paper to hang in the car so other people can see who they helped in the other pocket.
So we stood on the walkway while wearing the outfit with a small can on one hand to collect donations and the paper and the jelly bean bag in one hand. Each time the light turned to red, we had about forty seconds before the light turned back to green, when we had to go back in when the turning light changed to green because the cars will move and the other leaders didn’t want us to get hurt. The people being asked for donations have a lot of types of responses, like ignore us, give reasons, and responding in a friendly way. Some people didn’t even look to see who we are, and I think that some drivers think we are homeless or maybe a fake group so they decided not to help us.
I think the theme of Catholic Social Teaching relevant here is the Preferential Option for the Poor and Marginalized. We do not need to prefer to the poor; we should not treat caring for the poor and marginalized as optional. But Christ calls us to consider the poor in every decision we make, personally, communally, and socially. And the Dignity and Value of Human Life tells us to respect life in all forms and at all stages from conception till natural death.
I think what I did there was very good because I can experience the homeless feeling when they try to ask for money and rarely some people give them money. I never been in such a situation, but I know it can really bad because, especially when the temperature outside is chilly and they still have to keep standing there for all day.
We should help the homeless everytime and everywhere, by just basically sit down and talk to them, asking them how are they are, or even giving them money, even though some of the homeless maybe using our help and use those money not for food but for drugs, alcohol, and other bad things. The safest way to help them is donating to those place like food pantries, disabled center, and all the place that help the homeless.
Note: Minor grammar/style edits have been made to each post not affecting the content or perspective of these students.
