MSR & BES GO INTERNATIONAL TO HELP

Posted by Janet Kolepp on Jan 17, 2017
 
 
 
On Thursday January 12, ten Morning Star Rotarians, along with 7 Lehigh University Fulbright Scholars served dinner to 35 guests of the shelter at Nativity Cathedral.  This was the second night this winter season and the 4th time since our Club took on this project last year. 
 
The Vision & Values of Emergency Sheltering Program, as outlined on their website, are:
  1. We believe all people have the right to be treated with dignity and respect regardless of their circumstances.
  2. We believe serving those in need is a tangible expression of the faiths practiced by our volunteers.
  3. We believe individuals and groups that seek to work in partnership with others create a more talented and resourceful community.
 
This third value really underscores our work with this program. Over the course of our service we have come to know some of the guests.  Maybe not my name, but through conversations and the many “Thank you’s!” shared during our time with them.  We have also come to know many of the church volunteers: Deacon Rodney, Joe, Katrina & James to name a few.  These people are there week in, week out; dedicated to providing a warm place to sleep and a good meal. 
 
We were also able to extend the reach of this project internationally, including the students from Lehigh University that Bill Hunter introduced to us.   They went away from the evening with a new sense of service in the United States and more knowledge about Rotary.  What impact this understanding will have on the seven Fulbright Scholars? We can only trust that it will somehow, somewhere, someday!!
 
 
A truly international experience: Lehigh Univiersity Fulbright Scholars - Seraj from Libya, Nazgul from the Kyrgyz Republic, Diem from Vietnam, Qasim from Pakistan, Mai from Egypt, Tshego from South Africa and Satrih from Indonesia. Special thanks to Bill Hunter
 
It is an honor for our club to be able to participate. Special thanks go out to each of you that have contributed your time, food or funds to support the meal!  If you haven’t taken the opportunity to volunteer your time at the shelter there are still two more chances: February 23 and March 16.  Please do, you won’t regret it!!
 
Any questions, please email Janet Kolepp (jkolepp@gmail.com) or call/text (484-241-1252)