A Final Outlook
What an amazing summer it's been! After coordinating and managing dozens of pounds of food, volunteer hours, and community individuals who are served, I can honestly say I am exhausted! Fantastic moments from the past few months include: running across campus with four bags of Sheetz food, mystified gawkers staring at us as we cart that bright orange carry bag and Little Tykes wagon through Gettysburg streets, picking on Sara and her recipes for disaster (e.g. biking AND dragging the wagon, riding the wagon down a hill), desperately trying to find creative uses for zucchini ("weapon" was one suggestion), our great conversations during Heston dinners...it really has been fantastic!
My favorite part of working with Campus Kitchens has been getting to know community members who are truly excited about food! I still love going to the Senior Center two or three times a week to drop off meals for Meals on Wheels--and I never object to joining a good competitive Rummy500 game if I have time! Every time I go, everyone seems so happy to see me... they make me feel like part of the gang (and what a gang they are--just ask Isha)! I'm also really excited for our up-and-coming dinner/soccer party at the rec park with some of the LIU families that we serve. I'm dying to meet some of them (and a tad apprehensive about their opinion of our food!). From Circles to Reentry Services to the Farmers Market to Green Goodies to the Local Foods Network... it's just wonderful to walk through Gettysburg and see familiar faces among community members. I really think this summer has brought me closer to the greater Gettysburg that isn't just the campus. There have definitely been challenges, but I'm starting to see those as fences in an outdoor obstacle course. They serve their purpose, but they also have their limits. I'm learning to see the grass and the trees and the flowers among these fences... I'm starting to find the positive side of my work. I'm sad to see Christine go (this was her last week as CKP coordinator), but I'm excited for what the school year will bring--I'll be continuing my work with Campus Kitchens come August. This summer has definitely been a huge learning experience for me and I certainly won't forget what I've learned! Olivia Haddad '11



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