Staff Council’s Outreach Committee organized service opportunities with Morning Glory Ministries this fall on September 27th, and November 15th. A big “thank you” to all those staff who gave up their Saturday to help serve meals to homeless families in downtown Kansas City Missouri. Staff Council also joined staff, faculty and students from the UMKC School of Law f0r a service day October 18th with the organization Christmas in October. Below, staff share reflections from both experiences:
Cherie Burton | Office Support Assistant IV | School of Medicine, Student Affairs
It was a very heartwarming experience. Helping others has always been a passion of mine. It was a great experience meeting and working with new people also. It’s so good to know that places to help the needy/homeless exist, and to be a part of the volunteering is a blessing. I look forward to volunteering at Morning Glory Ministries again.
Deborah K. Green | Office Support Assistant IV | Faculty Affairs
I really enjoyed my day with the Morning Glory Ministries on Saturday, September 27, 2014. From the moment we stepped inside, we felt welcomed and appreciated. The director and assistants briefed us on our mission and gave us our assignments for the day. When our guests arrived, is when the ‘magic’ began . . . happy faces on a beautiful, sunny day; warm and nutritious food; lively conversation around each dining table. Enough for everyone, with a snack-pack to take home. God is so good! My heart was full of joy and gladness as we cleaned the tables and chairs. As we left for the day, the director and assistants thanked us and welcomed us back anytime! I felt a great sense of satisfaction, a spirit of thankfulness, and much gratitude for the simple things in my life. I look forward to doing this again!
Vanessa Harper | Administrative Assistant | Department of Residential Life
I am very thankful for the opportunity to volunteer at Morning Glory Ministries on Saturday, November 15th. It was so fulfilling and the sense of appreciation for the time we spent there was palpable. One of my favorite interactions was with a long-time volunteer who mentioned that in addition to food and clothing, the organization also donates other needed items. He then indicated that one of the regular patrons had been in need of false teeth, and through Morning Glory Ministries, he had obtained them. The regular volunteer mused, “He never used to smile, but you see him now, and that’s all he wants to do.” Overall, we were able to contribute in a variety of ways that allowed us to positively engage with the local community on behalf of UMKC, and I will happily return to volunteer in the future!
Keron Hopkins | Grants and Contracts Administrator | Office of Research Services
I thoroughly enjoyed my experience volunteering at Morning Glory Ministries. I was incredibly impressed by the order in which each task was assigned and carried out. The leadership at Morning Glory Ministries is awesome. They have such a passion for the people they feed. Personally, I have decided to volunteer with Morning Glory Ministries at least twice a month because I felt such a sense of fulfillment with each item of food I handed out, with each smile I was able to share, with each table I wiped, and with each dish I washed.
Jacqui Rodgers | Front Line Supervisor | Cashiers and Collections
Helping out with Morning Glory Ministries was such a great and humbling experience. I’ve always has a passion to help others and give back. I am new to the University so joining the Outreach Committee was a no brainer for me. Everyone at Morning Glory Ministries was so appreciative and grateful for our help. I am excited to go back and help once again.
Sandra Smith | Course Coordinator | School of Medicine, Council on Curriculum
Serving at Morning Glory Ministries was a blessing. What impacted me the most was, there were 2 individuals who came in for lunch, and they were singing, despite the circumstances they are currently in. This was so heartwarming to me, because it made me realizes, that we can take things for granted, and miss out on the opportunity to find joy in the little things of life. I look forward to our new opportunity to serve with this ministry again.
Sheila Cheffen | Human Resources Assistant | Human Resources
It was a rewarding and humbling experience assisting the elderly homeowner via Christmas in October. I empathize with the elderly because most of them have limited resources available to them and they live on a fixed income. It was also very rewarding to see the smile and gratitude on his face as the team worked on his home.
Kathy Garrison | Administrative Assistant | Chemistry
It was nice to meet the home owner briefly before he left. He bought us pastries and orange juice. It was also a lot of fun to meet people from outside of my department or from my committee, namely those in the School of Law.
The pizza was great as well!
Jacqui Rodgers | Front Line Supervisor | Cashiers and Collections
When I think of Christmas in October, I think of joy, happiness, working together, and giving back. That is exactly what happened during this event. Everyone came out ready to work and take on the challenge of restoring a beautiful home. A special thanks to the UMKC School of Law for allowing the Staff Council Outreach Committee to participate with them on this event. Helping others and working together as a team is truly what it is all about.
Please email Sandra at staffcouncil@umkc.edu for more information on these events or for opportunities to serve with the Outreach Committee.
