Caliyah
Advertising and public relations · Omaha, Nebraska
There are all sorts of ways Huskers spend their time over the summer. For Caliyah, the simple choice to commit time each week to volunteering for No More Empty Pots is having a big impact — both for Caliyah’s outlook and for the communities that No More Empty Pots serves.
“I told myself I wanted to be productive this summer and make the most out of it. I wanted to do something that was fulfilling for me,” explains Caliyah. “The feeling I get from volunteering, especially in my community, is really fulfilling.”
No More Empty Pots is an Omaha-based nonprofit that focuses on food security for urban and rural communities in the region. The organization’s mission, and particularly its impact in the North Omaha area where Caliyah grew up, was enough to jolt her out of a not-so-great-day in college and motivate her to learn more.
“I was having a really bad day and was going to just go home and sleep for the rest of the day, but I didn’t think that would be very productive of me,” she remembers. “Instead, I joined my friend at a job fair. No More Empty Pots caught my attention because I’m from North Omaha and seeing what they’re doing — providing quality produce and nutritious foods to low-income families — felt very important to me.”
That connection prompted Caliyah to reach out to their community relations coordinator to set up a tour that ended with her signing up for a weekly volunteer shift.
On the surface, Caliyah’s shift entails packaging foods to go out to clients. In reality, it’s so much more.
“Volunteering just expands my...everything. I’m meeting and networking with so many new people, learning new skills and realizing that I might have an interest in working with nonprofits.”
And though work and summer classes take up the majority of her time, Caliyah says that volunteering is the highlight of her week.
“I’m super passionate about it, so I think that’s what keeps me going,” says Caliyah. “I can honestly say volunteering is one thing I look forward to each week. Plus, it’s fun! And if we don’t do it, who will?”
Michael Farrell
Coordinator
As people retreated home to practice social distancing early last spring, their newfound free time led to a bevy of creative projects and pursuits. Some tried baking bread for the first time. Others picked up a new craft like crocheting or knitting. And a few folks, like Michael Farrell, created something that would immortalize the unique moment in time.
Using a glass plate camera, Michael collected the portraits and perspectives of friends old and new. All the photos were taken in Michael's backyard, where he created an outdoor photo studio that would allow the photos to be taken safely with social distancing.
After posting on Facebook inviting his friends and followers to partake in the series, he was shocked to see portrait requests flow in from more than 90 different individuals. Some were complete strangers he had never met before and others were longtime friends and colleagues — including a handful from Michael's time at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
His work, now known as the Pandemic Portrait Project, is being turned into a book. Each portrait is paired with a written perspective from the photo subject about COVID-19 — with some quotes as lighthearted as noting how long it had been since the author's last haircut, to deeper revelations over the sadness of being unable to see at-risk family members.
"You're listening to this stuff like this and you're thinking, 'This is this is pretty rough stuff,'" Michael said. "People's motivations to be a part of this were all very individual and unique — and that's kind of what makes it interesting."
Joe
Academic Success Coach · Manila, Philippines
When you sit down for a meeting with Joe, it’s likely you'll talk about food or comic books before you get to anything related to school. His office in the Center for Academic Success and Transition is covered with comic book posters and photos of Filipino cuisine – not to mention the buffet of Asian candies on his desk.
Joe uses his own culture and interests to connect with students and get them talking about themselves. It’s also, he says, to encourage them to value their own backgrounds.
"I use the posters of Filipino cuisine in my office to ask students, ‘What’s on your plate? What’s home-cooked food for you?’ It’s a way for me to engage students to feel welcomed and know that their background, community and memories of home are important.”
As an Academic Success Coach, Joe helps Huskers settle into life at UNL and talk through some of the challenges being a student brings about. He gives emphasis to students who, like himself, are first-generation and come from diverse backgrounds.
“First-generation students are trailblazers in their family and might not have the same support as others. As a coach, I’m here to help those first-year Huskers who maybe haven’t had a family member go to college. I show them what’s possible in our community and give them strategies and tools to be successful.”
Joe, who was born in the Philippines and raised in Southern California, stresses that being a Husker can look a lot of different ways.
“Being a Husker is more than wearing red; everyone brings in a rich background and culture and adds it to the experience,” he explains. “It’s not about trying to become like everyone else; it’s about what’s unique to you that you bring to UNL.”
Joe likes to use himself as an example to show everyone has a unique path – and that’s okay. He took a 15-year break from college before going back to earn his bachelor’s and master's degrees.
“When students say they’re afraid of failing, I always tell them to take it from me: the struggle isn’t the end. There’s always a way to make it through.”
Troy
Alumnus and Nursing Student · Gretna, Nebraska
Troy was surprised to learn that he’d volunteered with Husker Pantry for 5 semesters. The first-year nursing student has always just naturally gravitated toward serving others, dating all the way back to his Boy Scout days growing up.
“I was a Cub Scout when I was little and eventually got my Eagle Scout in high school, so service was always just on the forefront of everything I did when I was a kid.”
Troy came to UNL as an undergrad looking for service opportunities to supplement his interest in a career in healthcare. He eventually landed on pursuing a career in nursing, attracted to the idea of being the person who can work closely with patients to understand their specific needs and concerns.
“They say nurses are the patient’s advocate. So much of nursing is thinking about and talking to your patient and seeing what you can do to personally help them feel better and get back to their normal lives.”
This attention to everyone’s specific needs has made volunteering for the Husker Pantry a great fit for Troy, who says that it has broadened his understanding of different student experiences on campus.
“I’ve had a few different people tell me about their stories and why the pantry is a great resource for them,” he says. “A lot of the people who use the pantry also have dependents. it’s already hard being a student, but having dependents on top of that adds a whole other level.”
The Husker Pantry provides free food and personal items to UNL students, working to increase access to needed items and reduce stigmas around food insecurity. Troy and fellow pantry volunteers help to field incoming online orders, collecting and organizing items to get orders ready for student pickup.
Volunteering with the pantry is an easy way for students to give back on campus, says Troy.
“It can be as little as 2 hours a week, so it’s a great opportunity to get your foot in the door doing service on campus,” he explains. “I’ve been able to help all kinds of students just like myself who have a variety of different needs.”