"we're all together" Baltimore 2011

I just returned from my Extended Service Trip to Baltimore, MD yesterday - what a great experience! If you've followed my blog for a while, you know about my experiences in David. KY and the Dominican Republic on SMC service trips, but this one was completely different - I was totally in charge as the group's staff leader (my student leader had to change his plans last minute and couldn't come with us...). Everything went off without a hitch and we had an incredible group and incredible service sites in inner city Baltimore.

We went to various service sites, but I think that everyone would agree that our favorite site was Our Daily Bread (aka ODB) where we served lunch 3 times. ODB serves lunch everyday of the week, 365 days of the year to anyone who needs a hot meal - they see up to 800 people during their 2 hour serving! We had different tasks ranging from bread girl (my specialty) to table cleaner to tea person and we all had meaningful experience serving those who need it most. We didn't take any pictures out of respect to the guests, but we had a really great experience!

We were also able to visit Washington DC on the Sunday before our week of service which was fun - I had never been! We visited all of the monuments and the Holocaust museum which was great. Here is our group in front of Vermont at the WWII monument on the National Mall.

Front Row (l-r): me, Alex, Jenna, Abbey, Second Row: Melissa, Caitlin, Liv, Kate and Brian

We had a great experience doing volunteer work in an area of the country which is so different from our corner of the world, and I am happy to say that the both the students and I learned a great deal and had lots and lots of laughs! Our trip motto was "We're all together" because of the various mishaps (7 hour delay in Philly? It's OK because we're all together) we had during the course of the week and because of how well we all got along. I foresee many reunions in the future!

The group in front of the Washington Monument, which we went up to the top of!