Service Learning Project Kalamazoo Community in Schools Food Pack Program Catherine Groggel NURS 450

Introduction ● As part of the RN to BSN program at Ferris State University the Service Learning experience is a requirement for graduation and takes place throughout the course of the program. ● The service learning project allows the student to volunteer for a health related activity, outside of their current work environment, to assist those in need. ● In order to advance nursing as a profession we must all contribute to its growth and development.

Introduction (cont.) ● This project enhances our development and professional accountability to those who are less fortunate. By volunteering we are giving back to the community. ● By participating in this project we are improving our own nursing skills in areas of education, communication, collaboration, resource utilization, leadership, and environmental health as described in the ANA’s Standards of Nursing Practice (ANA, 2010, p ).

Communities in Schools ● Communities in Schools (CIS), a national organization was developed in 1970 by Bill Milliken to take the community resources into the schools to the students in need of them. ● The program is designed to keep socioeconomic disadvantaged students in school by giving them the support they need so they will stay in school and graduate from high school. ● The program aligns and delivers resources to the students so their focus can be on learning. ● CIS works with five school districts in Michigan, Detroit is the largest, then Kalamazoo.

Kalamazoo Communities in Schools ● In 2003, the national CIS program was brought to Kalamazoo to assist area students. ● Kalamazoo Communities in Schools (KCIS) is supported by 3 local organizations: ■ Kalamazoo Public Schools ■ The City of Kalamazoo ■ Kalamazoo Chamber of Commerce ● Through its network of community partners, KCIS surrounds students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life (KCIS, 2014, para.1).

Kalamazoo Communities in Schools ● KCIS brings together major service providers, school officials, community volunteers, business leaders, and other concerned citizens to meet the various physical, social-emotional, and academic needs of students in Kalamazoo. ● In the last 10 years, KCIS has grown from helping children in 6 different Kalamazoo schools to 19 schools in ● One KCIS program is weekend food packs for children who might be in situations where food is scarce. ■ Hungry children cannot focus on school. ■ They are meeting basic human needs.

Edison Neighborhood ● Edison Environmental Science Academy elementary school is located in the Edison neighborhood. ● The Edison neighborhood community only covers about 3.75 square miles. ● One of 21 Kalamazoo neighborhoods. ● Considered the most diverse Kalamazoo neighborhood. ● Rated the lowest in education levels, incomes, and home values in Kalamazoo. ● Highest rate of single mother and school aged children households in Kalamazoo. ● Edison school is located next door to the Family Health Center and The Boys and Girls Club of Kalamazoo.

Volunteer Role Description ● One of the programs offered by KCIS is the dispensing of weekend food packs. Food packs are given to children that may not have any other source of food for the 2 days they are not in school. ● Every Friday afternoon during the school year, food packs are taken to the students classroom and dropped off to the teacher with a list of students that will receive them. o A parent can request a food pack for any student by filling out a form. o Teachers can request a food pack for any student they feel is in need. ● The teachers give the students their food packs before going home.

Volunteer Role Description ● My role was to assist the 5th Grade Elementary students in passing out weekend food packs to the teachers in each of the classrooms. o The students involved with passing out of the food packs were selected by their teachers as group leaders and were expected to follow the rules and set an example for the other students. o The students helped with getting the carts to deliver the food packs and counting out the numbers of packs needed for each classroom. Students with allergies got a special designated food pack. o The students used their recess time to deliver the food packs.

Volunteer Role Description ● The food packs were supplied by the local Loaves and Fishes organization. ● The food packs contained non-perishable items such as cereal, canned fruits and vegetables, beans and pastas.

Reflection Initial thoughts ●Felt it was a worthwhile project to help children in need. ●Find some type of volunteer activity outside of my comfort zone. ●Opportunity to work with children and to do something very different. ●Was unaware of all the volunteer opportunities available in the community. ●Wanted something close to where I work so I could learn more about the neighborhood surrounding the hospital and the people we serve in the community. ●Was unsure about the extent of the need in the community.

Reflection Assumptions ●Would be able to help put the food packs together. ●When putting the food packs together, use my nursing knowledge to select nutritious, healthy, and well balanced items for the food packs. ●Opportunity to teach children about healthy food choices and get to know what they like. Put together food packs that meet individual needs. ●Work with teachers and other volunteers. ●Children receiving food packs might be embarrassed or ashamed.

Reflection Information Attained ●Training consisted of 3 hours at the KCIS main building with other volunteers to learn about the programs including: ○ Expectations ○ Conduct ○ Background checks ●Food packs are put together by the local Loaves and Fishes organization and delivered every Thursday to the area schools. They use non-perishable items donated or funded by area businesses. ●Unable to participate in the stuffing of food packs. ●Very little time to teach the students about healthy choices before they needed to go back to class. Had contact with a limited number of students and each school year the students changed.

Reflection Information Attained (cont.) ● At Edison school alone, we passed out food packs every week. ● Children not embarrassed about needing a food pack, actually excited about getting them. Frequently other students would say, “Do you have mine?” o Illustrates the need and the extent of the issue. ● Other opportunities in Edison school for volunteering such as tutoring, being a lunch buddy, after school programs, or reading to students. ● Every semester I worked with a different KCIS employees at the school, there was a high turnover rate. It seemed to be a stepping stone for people to move on to other jobs. Did not work with teachers or individual students.

Reflection Information Attained (cont.) ● Along with food packs the KCIS employee had an office with numerous shelves containing supplies to distribute to children if they had a need. The teachers would send students to the KCIS office or students would come in themselves if they needed something. o Items stocked:  Different sized clothing to fit all ages of elementary children.  Shoes, boots, and coats.  School supplies (backpacks, paper, pencils, and crayons.)  Basic health items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, and shampoo. ● There are many children in the community that need our help!

Learnings ★ Have a better understanding of one of the communities which the hospital serves and how I can impact it. ★ Gained knowledge of the potential problems and issues the members of this community are faced with and how some of their needs are being met. ★ Learned about the diversity of this neighborhood. ★ Learned how hunger can affect a student’s ability to learn. ★ The extent of hunger in just one area of the community. ★ Moved out of my comfort zone to do something different. ★ I recognized there is another world outside of the hospital in need of expertise and assistance from nurses.

Learnings ★ My next volunteer opportunity would be to work in the health center, next door to Edison school, in order to put my nursing skills to better use. ★ Even though I was unable to use my nursing knowledge, I had fun with the students and KCIS faculty I worked with. I felt like it was a worthwhile, rewarding experience and I would highly recommend it to future students or someone looking to volunteer. ★ Took treats each semester to thank the students for helping. ★ Everyone has the opportunity to give back and make a difference in their community, no matter how small you think it might be. ★ It doesn’t matter what you do to help, “Just do it!”

References American Nurses Association. (2010). Nursing: Scope and standards of practice (2nd ed.) Silver Spring, MD: Nursebooks.org. Edison Neighborhood. (2011). In Kzoo Life: Neighborhoods. Retrieved from Our Mission and History. (2014). In Kalamazoo Communities in Schools. Retrieved from