International students volunteer at ‘Rescue Mission’ feeding the homeless

It was Tuesday evening when the International NWCCI department announced volunteer opportunities at the Rescue Mission, but when international students hear the words Rescue Mission they assumed that it is an emergency service or a CPR course.

When the international students visited with their adviser Bebhinn Horrigan at the Rescue Mission headquarters in Tacoma, they observed the internal workings of the building. It was totally different than what they were thinking.

It was an organization that helps homeless people and gives them food.  The students wore aprons and got ready to serve the homeless people in Pierce County. As the food serving session started, people lined up outside to get into the huge serving hall.

The students served the food on the preparation line to the homeless people and the volunteers that run the Rescue Mission cook the food in the kitchen.

Fresh healthy food, dessert, salad and yogurt were laid out for that day. Juice and coffee brought more nutrition to the meal.

“It is a non-profit organization which was founded in 1912. Christian heritage and beliefs guide the human spirit and it is the main objective of the Mission. The mission has six different locations that not only serve foods but also help in all addictions. The mission provides more than 1,800 healthy meals per month throughout the county and provides shelters for homeless people. The mission also runs drug

free rehabilitation and educational campaigns for needy men and women. Cultural, ethnic and social diversity of our nation reflects our staff,” said Rescue Mission worker.

Some of the students expressed their views that the program is different and a new experience for them. Students from India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Kenya, South Africa and Brazil having different faiths and cultural backgrounds, appreciated the job of Rescue Mission and pledged to do the same work in their country.

There is a quote from Bible, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was stranger and you invited me in.” Here scholars say it means to help others who are in needs.

Different religions say different things about serving the homeless. A person goes to the Last prophet Muhammed (P.B.U.H) and asks what the best thing in the world to do is? He replies feeding the hungry people.

An Indonesian media major student in our college Haeril Halim who joined this event said, “I found the activity was very insightful. I gained more understanding about homeless people and it inspired me to make that kind of organization in the future. We should help hand in hand with other people who are in need.”

Another student Moses Otieno from Kenya expressed his views saying, “If I had the chance to do this, I would do it again, and again. I almost shed a tear for one of the homeless people when he told me to just give him the plate of food that I had in my hand. He whispered to me that he hadn’t eaten anything the whole day.”

“I was confused for a moment whether giving him the food was right to do (because he had already eaten) or taking the food back to the serving area as I was supposed to. He had less than three minutes to eat it up and he gobbled it all up in a few bites,” Otieno continued.

“It became apparent to me that the Rescue Mission really lives up to its name. That is why I wouldn’t hesitate to go back there and offer my services any way I can,” Otieno said.

Students thanked the International Department and said they would want to do that event again.

Written by: Abdul Wahab Shaikh