Called 2 Serve

The 50 Days of Service is back with our "Called 2 Serve" theme for 2008. This year's 50 Days of Service will take place from Jan. 21 - March 28.

We've already got off to a great start with our Day 1 Food Packaging Event on MLK Day. Here's some info from the day:

Approximately 400 volunteers packaged 62,557 meals at the MLK Day Food Packaging Event that will be sent to Tanzania! We raised $9,238.40!

-More than 140 Waldorf students packaged meals throughout the day
-20 Waldorf Education Members served as trainers – some even stayed the whole day to help!
-Waldorf Football Players helped set up & take down
-Waldorf Communication members took photos, videotaped as well as broadcast the event on KZOW
-Waldorf Interns helped organize the Hunger Banquet & Food Packaging
-Members of the Advancement Staff served as greeters throughout the day
-Admissions Staff had a table at the event
-Waldorf Maintenance Staff helped set up
-Aramark Staff cooked some of rice for the volunteers to taste

In all, nearly 200 Waldorf students took part in this event & nearly 60 Waldorf Faculty/Staff/Administration also volunteered!

In addition, employees from TSB & MBT, students from Forest City Middle School & High School, Rotary members, youth groups from Immanuel Lutheran, United Methodist Church & St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Mason City, as well as several families from the community also participated.

Service is taking center stage yet again at Waldorf College this spring and we hope you'll keep checking out our blog, as students, faculty and staff reflect on our 2nd Annual 50 Days of Service.

Josh Damm
Member of Committee on Vocation and Service

Speech at State Capitol

The following words were spoken by Rev. Ken Gibson at the Iowa State Capitol before the 50 Days of Service Relay Run started:

Over the last 48 days much has happened to capture the attention of all of us. Headlines a plenty of truly almost unbelievable events – Headlines we would like to forget.

However, over these last nearly 50 days – you, who have been part of the 50 days of service effort, have not garnered many headlines. In fact much of what you have done will not ever be recorded in print (with the possible exceptions of some local media) sadly much of what you have done was not recorded by the media in any fashion.

Bus so much of what you have done and what you represent has been recorded by the ones you have touched in service to those in need. Your acts of love and kindness in care for “the other” are perhaps, I might suggest, are in process of being recorded in the hearts and lives of those you have touched. Your selfless acts may in fact lead to the development of great achievements yet unknown by others for others. Your acts have begun to create a circle of service and the truth is the circle of service most often goes unbroken.

So on this day I salute you on behalf of all Iowans who take time to volunteer and serve “the other”. We in Iowa are grateful for your efforts over these last 50 days which have reminded us that we, as Iowans, possess an inherited sense of service to others, that comes from the very core of our being, which guides so much of what we do and defines who we are!

Indeed perhaps 50 days of service to others does not make headlines, these acts are not recorded by anyone other than the Almighty and ultimately that recording is greater than all the rest.

Therefore – thank you for being the example we all need these days. May you continue to be recorded in the lives you dared to touch!

Run on- learn, live and serve – and thank you and God bless you all.

3K3

A sincere THANKS to everyone who participated in or supported the 3K3 event held last Thursday. We had 123 people who signed up to participate, nineteen local business who gave sponsorship money and several people who made generous donations. It appears we will actually surpass our $2,000 mark that we reported earlier. The 3 Kristi's of Waldorf - Kristi Carlson, Kristi Leonard and myself - were overwhelmed by the success of this event.

We are proud. Proud of ourselves for pulling off a successful event but more importantly, proud to be working for a place that has made a commitment of service to others. 50 Days of Service has changed many of us. It has made us reflect on what we have, who we are and what we can do.

Thank you Josh Damm for creating the opportunity. Thank you Waldorf College for providing the opportunity.

Kristi Osheim

The Long Run

I'm tired! After running almost 6 miles last night in the 3K3 event, my body is slightly exhausted today. I would guess that some of the other 123 participants of the 3K3 are also tired today but it was well worth the effort for all of us. The 3K3 event raised almost $2,000 for the American Cancer Society. For me, it was one of the highlights of the 50 Days of Service.

Next week the 50 Days of Service ends with our relay run from Des Moines to Forest City on the 19th and 20th of April. It's going to be a fun way to finish out the 50 Days. We are still trying to raise money for our 50 Days charities and I hope that we'll get a lot of our fundraising done after the 50 Days are over. Who knows if we'll ever get up to the $50,000 we have been aiming for? But even if we don't, every penny we get will have been worth our time - we've done our best.

And, in the long run, service is not about money or numbers or awards. It's about getting off the couch and doing something for someone else.

Slowing Down at Holden

By, Claire Bartleson

The mission trip to Holden Village is one that I won’t soon forget. We met so many interesting and different people with such different stories as to where their lives have taken them and how their experiences have shaped them that it has really made me examine my life and where I’m heading mentally, spiritually and emotionally.
The best part of the trip for me was being cut off from the outside world. It was tough at times but it was great not to hear cell phones ringing! It felt as if nothing else mattered at that time other than what I was doing. I didn’t have to worry about being somewhere on time, returning phones calls, getting assignments in or going to work. I was truly relaxed.
I now see why slowing down in life is important. While at Holden I really took time to look at what was around me. Waking up every morning and walking outside and seeing these huge mountains was incredible. I don’t think people take enough time anymore to really notice the beauty that is around them everyday.

Three Moments from Seattle/Holden

By, John Robinson

From all the experiences that I had from the Holden Village / Seattle trip, three moments will stay with me always.

First, the homeless center in Seattle. I had never been in a shelter like that before. In my mind, I always pictured a shelter such as this one as being slightly unkept, with a lot of "lost souls" roaming around. The reality is that the center houses many individuals who are just like you and me; yet due to situations beyond their control, they have lost everything. One "resident" of the house had actually worked with the Seattle Supersonics in their media department. He told of how at one time he had stayed in the Hilton Hotels throughout this country, living the higher profile life of someone associated with the NBA. He dropped names of the superstars he had rubbed elbows with at the time which included "Downtown" Freddie Brown (knowing I was from Iowa), and Wes Unseld (my favorite player when I was young!) The guy knew his basketball and he was articulate; and yet due to circumstances beyond his control, he is now living in a homeless shelter. BUT, he said he remains very optimistic about his future and he is not giving up. I guess I could all learn about life from him.

The second moment / thought that I come away with was the view of the mountains and how small we all really are! Waking up to mountains that reach up 8,000 feet really does humble a person! We really aren't much when we really look around this country, planet, universe. But, as Jim and I worked on the front deck of a hydroelectric plant, I also recognized the abilities that we have been given. This hydroelectrical plant just amazed me! Someone had to draw up the plans, someone had to construct the equipment, someone had to put it all in place over the small river... all in this very remote location! This smaller facility gave Holden its electrical power and it was very impressive.

Finally, the Sunday morning church service in Seattle. Before the actual message, we were read the Ten Commandments slowly and quietly. If the world is to survive, we all need to hear and reflect on what these commandments are saying. Strangely enough, that was the moment which will define my trip for me as I look back at all that I experienced.

Thanks for allowing me the opportunity to take this trip.
-JR

Phoenix Group - Monday

The following is from Amanda Kafer's journal for Monday, March 19th. Amanda is a Waldorf student from Forest City, IA.

Monday 3-19-07
Today was a lot of fun. Waking up at 5:50 was a stretch for me. We ate and got going pretty quick. Today I got to go to a food bank and work with my fellow Waldorf students, as well as some of the Sheriff’s inmates of Phoenix. They were really cool. We boxed food and prepared it to be boxed by the next groups that would come in. We got a lot of work done, and it was cool to see the work it takes to feed people who need the help in that area. We spent most of our day there then got to shower at the YMCA (finally after two days without one) then finished out the day with the rest of our Waldorf group. It was a great day for me. (my hands and arms hurt from the work though). :)
Amanda