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Christina J. Johnson
Direction of Campus Recreation, Lynn University, Florida
“In August of 2008, I had several interactions with “Lena” but most were discipline-based. I watched her get caught in the party posse. Her Facebook page was adorned with solo cups and drunken photos. She was involved in policy violations on campus. She was confronted for breaking policies in the residence hall. When I saw Lena on campus she avoided interaction with me. It was apparent that she was avoiding campus leadership at all costs. It was unfortunate but Lena seemed to be a lost student; she was heavily involved in South Florida’s party culture and unwilling to be helped.
At the beginning of second semester, Lena went on the January trip to Jamaica with Food for the Poor. Soon after, I started seeing Lena on campus more often. She came to the workout classes I taught and was one of my most dedicated students. She recruited her group of friends to start attending with her. After a few weeks, I started noticing the conversations in my classes changing. Lena was always talking about Students for the Poor. She invited me to visit their “House on Campus.” I saw her displaying her SFP apparel around campus advertising Students for the Poor Week. She brought donation bracelets to class, encouraging me and other students to help support their mission. The way that Lena’s face lit up when she talked about her experience in Jamaica was inspiring. It was clear that I was witnessing a transformation.
At Lena’s invitation, I attended the SFP Reception concluding Students for the Poor Week on campus. I cannot articulate the humility, compassion, and joy present in that room. The student’s faces lit up as they interacted with guests discussing their experiences. I had been excited about the difference that Students for the Poor was making on campus. That evening, I became a believer in its potential to not only change the lives of those less fortunate, but to also change the lives of the people who serve. Lena is just one example of the transformative power of these journeys.”
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Students For The Poor is an affiliate of Food For The Poor, the third-largest international relief and development charity in the United States, feeding 2 million people daily. We help the poorest of the poor by providing food, housing, healthcare, education, water projects, emergency relief and micro-enterprise assistance to those in need.