Madalyn Messer-Brooks Assistant Marketing Director

It Starts With“Hello”

by Madalyn Messer-Brooks

The first time that I ever volunteered at a soup kitchen, I was nervous. I was going for a service trip my junior year in high school, and I was in the orientation session.

The woman in charge that night was going over what to expect and how everything was going to run.

She said, “Just talk to them…. All of the patrons have so many great stories. Some are regulars here and some are new, but they all have a life story.”

“Just talk to them,” I thought. My friends and I, who talked the whole way there about this and that, were tongue-tied. For some reason, we did not think that these people would want to talk to us; we thought they might think we were just patronizing them. Anyway, we thought, what would we have to talk to them about?

After a couple of muffled hellos, however, the conversations began to flow. They did have stories to tell; encouraging words to give us. The conversation was interesting and intriguing. If only for a little while, we felt like changed people.

That is the thing about giving to others and working for social justice — it gives right back. Who knew working for social justice can sometimes mean just being social? Why, then, don’t people, including myself, do it more often? We are always at restaurants, bars, cell phones, on e-mail — just talking it up.

Why then don’t we actually make a difference with our words and have these conversations while dishing out a bowl of soup, playing on a playground with a little child, or while walking to an animal shelter?

Perhaps people are as intimidated as I was that first day and the soup kitchen or we are too busy chatting at work, home or school, to do something that could make a real impact on someone’s life.

Mosaic Magazine dedicates space to social justice issues and organizations in the Chicago area. The stories in the online magazine illustrate situations — children who need role models, abandoned pets without families and individuals dealing with fatal illness. The magazine also offers information on how to get involved with organizations that are combating these situations. There are many opportunities to help others.

However, people are often caught up in climbing the social ladder, being socially popular, socially correct and socially aware that they neglect to be socially just.

Previous online magazines, done by Loyola students about social justice, mention learning. “Learn” how to help the homeless; “learn” about adopting pets. Learn, learn, learn.

Well, I learned a lot that day at the soup kitchen. Although monetary donations and volunteer hours are important to make many agencies run, I do not necessarily have to donate money or spend hours planning an event.

In order to be socially just, I just had to be a little social and open myself up to friendly conversation. Doing something I do everyday can make all the difference.