My 10-year-old daughter Ellijoy and I woke up at 6 a.m. to head down to Greenberg Elementary School, not far from the Fresno Pacific University campus.
We were going to meet my sociology students there to pack Thanksgiving boxes...including turkey and ham, for the community near campus.
A Chance to Serve
Earlier in the semester, Asian Business Institute and Resource Center (ABIRC) reached out to me about a Turkey Giveaway event they were needing volunteer help for. This was a perfect opportunity for my American Ethnicity and Pluralism students since community service was part of the class.
Four students responded to my invitation, and ABIRC was excited to have us. My daughter was also eager to lend a hand...even though it meant waking up early on the week of her Thanksgiving break!
ALREADY Waiting
When we got there at 7:30 a.m. a line of people was already waiting even though we weren’t giving out the Thanksgiving boxes until noon. It struck me that this "meal" meant much more to people than I could have imagined.
My daughter and I packed canned food and boxes of fresh vegetables. Brandon Lopez and Erik Delgado, soccer teammates, came soon after, and Esmeralda Leora was already outside packing boxes. Jacob Flores came along a little later, and we were all there working side-by-side with the good people of ABIRC!
When all the packing was done, we helped with the set-up while the line that had formed since 7 a.m. started getting longer. The morning chill had subsided, and we were now out in the Fresno sunlight along with everyone else.
Amazing Students!
I enjoyed chatting with some of our amazing students as we worked side-by-side. Students like Brandon, who told me about the highly successful season he’d had with the FPU men's soccer team. A business major, he was poised to take over his father's carpentry business that he'd watched grow all his life.
Packing vegetables across from my daughter, we learned more about Esmeralda Leora's journey toward being the FIRST in her family to graduate college and how she hoped to inspire her younger sister to do likewise.
I stood there thinking about how proud their parents must be of these highly motivated students. I always marvel at the resilience of first-gen students, and I cherish being a small part of their journey. It was cool that I was serving the city alongside them in this time and place.
More Than Food
We braved the sun, and we did our best to work with dozens of other volunteers to hand out all the meals. Even when we ran out of turkeys, we still had food-boxes to give, and people received them with thanks.
My daughter was visibly tired, but she wanted to continue, and I had to coax her to take a break. I was so proud to see her be part of something greater than herself. Brian, Erik, Esmeralda and Jacob all stayed till the job was done! In all, it took 5 hours, but I think all of us felt refreshed.
In my heart, I knew that these Thanksgiving boxes meant more than food...my daughter saw people flash big smiles and heard them thank all the volunteers for making it possible for them to celebrate Thanksgiving.
"Some of us wouldn't have nothing to celebrate with if not for you all," said one person as they walked away with a smile...hands full. We smiled, too.
Tired...but Happy
At the end of the day, when I asked my ten-year-old how she was feeling, she said she was "tired but happy."
I suspect she spoke for all of us that day. It was the weekend of Thanksgiving, and all of our hearts were full.
We were able to reflect on how much we have to be thankful for. I am so glad our Sunbirds know the value of giving back to their community. Small acts can make a big difference to those who wouldn't have been able to afford a celebration otherwise.
Lloyd Chia
,
Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Criminology and Sociology, Program Director
Program Director and Professor of Criminology and Sociology Lloyd Chia, Ph.D., was a reluctant student who didn’t follow in his sister’s footsteps to Cambridge University. Surviving being caught for shoplifting a GI Joe toy as a kid, Professor Chia is now a passionate advocate for restorative justice and unexpected criminology professor. He’s glad that he wasn’t defined by his worst mistakes in life and hopes the same for everyone else. He’s originally from Singapore (not part of China) and loves being a global citizen… exploring God’s path for his family even if it takes them to unexpected places. Professor Chia didn’t succeed as a pro musician but is glad because being a professor has been much more fulfilling by far.
