This week’s Campus Celeb, sophomore Kendall Thompson, deserves a little recognition. Kendall has organized a project, Pack and Give Back, here at UNCW in order to raise awareness for homelessness and hunger in Wilmington. Read on to see how you can help, or check out UNCW Packs & Gives Back on Facebook for more information!
Kendall, pictured with one of the many donation boxes available around campus
HC: What exactly is this project, and what are your goals with it?
KT: Pack and Give Back is a three part program: Donate, Pack, Distribute. I am collecting donations of toiletries and non-perishable food items to pack into gallon sized ziplock bags and distribute to the homeless of downtown Wilmington. There are donation boxes in every residential area on campus; each area has their own list of items to donate. I am collecting donations until November 21st! On that day, there will be a “packing party” in the Seahawk Village Clubhouse from 3-5 p.m., where students can come help pack these bags and write a note to a homeless person. On Tuesday, December 1st students can come to The Lord’s Church downtown at 7:30 p.m. to distribute these bags to the homeless as well as feed and interact with them!
The goals I have for this program are to raise awareness of the issue of hunger and homeless that many people face here in Wilmington and in our community on a daily basis. I want to give people the opportunity to see the difference they’re making by donating and distributing these bags. I want to challenge the negative stigma and stereotype that surrounds homeless people and educate people on the reality of the issue.
HC: Why is this project important to you?
KT: This project is important to me because I witnessed my first homeless person in 5th grade and I’ve felt drawn to this issue ever since. I want people to see my friend Elwood (a homeless man I’ve met downtown) for who he is, not for his homelessness. This concept of packing bags and giving back to homeless people is an idea that my friends and I have thrown around for awhile, and now I’m fortunate enough to have the opportunity to do it on a big scale: raise awareness and directly impact my own community. I am extremely grateful for that. This project is important because this need in our community is important, and because homeless people have changed my life. It’s the least I can do to try and change theirs by not just feeding their stomachs, but also feeding their souls.
HC: How can UNCW’s students/faculty/staff help you with this?
KT: UNCW students, faculty, and staff can help by participating in any of the three parts of the program! Students who live on campus can check out the donation boxes and lists in their area and donate items, and all students and staff are invited to attend the packing party and assist with that. I encourage everyone interested to help distribute the bags and interact with the homeless! Spreading the word and liking our Facebook page UNCW Packs & Gives Back and sharing it would also be a huge help! Students who live off campus or staff members can also contact me if they are interested in donating.
HC: Is there anything you’ve discovered while doing this project that has really surprised you?
KT: I have discovered that one person really can make a difference. The only thing that matters is that you have a goal, passion, or something that drives you and that you act upon it. Being at UNCW has played a huge role in helping me discover the confidence and passion inside of me that I haven’t always fostered, but having a little faith in yourself and in others really goes a long way. I’ve also discovered that helping the homeless isn’t just giving them a handout. It’s giving them a hand up and asking instead of assuming.
HC: Where do you volunteer?
KT: I volunteer through an organzation on campus called GPS (Go Passionately Serve), and we feed the homeless at both First Baptist Church and The Lord’s Church in downtown Wilmington every Tuesday night!
HC: How would someone interested in helping out get in touch with you?
KT: I can be reached through email at kst7418@uncw.edu or found on Facebook as Kendall Thompson!
Photo courtesy of Kendall Thompson.