The day I dropped my daughter off to serve the less fortunate, the sign in the parking lot read: The Safe House. I won’t lie, I was a tad nervous. I found my fellow moms’ blogger and entrusted her with Morgan for the next 3-4 hours. Today my child would learn of those who may not have dinner for the evening. Those who sleep at the local shelter, one of many in our area. She would learn of the hardships that these people from all different backgrounds faced or that they simply fell on hard times and were in the process of recovering. This was the night that a servant’s heart was born.
It all started with Junior Beta Club. A service-oriented school club where you gain admission with 3.5 GPA and the oath the serve your community with love and respect. In years past, Morgan would work jobs that consisted of collecting admission money at the gate or serving concessions at a school sporting event. While these are certainly helpful and much needed, we decided to step out of the box this year. Morgan signed up for 3 different jobs to gain the seven service hours needed to attend the state competition with her club. We researched options that would allow her to serve her community and found 3 amazing ideas.
The HUB – Urban Ministries
A non-profit, this organization, “The Hub is on a mission to give everyone in out city access to a restored life!” On Mondays, volunteers and workers gather at The Safe House on N. Saint Antoine to serve residents. Food, ministry, fellowship, and even a little shopping. Morgan’s job was to help those that attended the evening with an art project. At this event, they would complete a color wheel. She ended up taking a seat next to an older gentleman, made conversation, and painted for almost an hour. Our drive home was short, but it was in those moments that her servant’s heart was born. She was so completely selfless and emotional as we discussed all the different situations some of the attendees could be in. It was tough and eye opening but her will to keep serving has never been more present.
St. Joseph Diner – Catholic Charities of Acadiana
Bright and early on a Saturday morning, we loaded up the car and headed downtown. Our mission on this day was to serve breakfast to those staying in the Veteran’s shelter and those who might have slept on the street the night before. We prepared 100 plates and served 97 of them. 97 people came through the door for a hot meal that morning and those same people would probably be back for lunch at 11am. Morgan witnessed one man come in, take a plate, walk over to a table full of hungry men and divide up the food between them. He prayed with them, drank his juice and was on his way. I won’t lie, we cried.
Heart of Hospice
Morgan’s last job was to make Valentine cards for 60 patients on hospice care. This job was especially hard for her to complete knowing that some of these patients may not be on this earth much longer. She spent hours cutting, pasting, gluing and coloring these cards in hopes of bringing love and joy to the person it ended up with. Who knew something so simple could have such a huge impact!!
What started out as 7 service hours for a school club turned in to so much more. Not only was Morgan able to touch so many lives, but her heart was opened to a life of service.
