Students Seek Donations To Aid Homeless Shelter

Maria J. Joubert considers herself “a Cambridge girl,” having spent most of her life in the city. This Thanksgiving, she has found herself with a new home here—at the University Lutheran Church Homeless Shelter, on the corner of Winthrop and Dunster streets.

“This is a tight-knit family here at the shelter,” Joubert said. “I call it the ‘Shelter Inn.’”

This year, however, difficulties from food shortages have marked the Thanksgiving season for Joubert and the 23 other people with whom she shares her home.

Recent renovations to some of the College’s dining halls have resulted in a more efficient food-serving process, reducing the amount of leftovers that can be contributed to the shelter.

The Third Annual Asian American Brotherhood at Harvard University (AAB) Thanksgiving Food Drive has helped to mitigate the food shortages.

“Last year was the first year of significant food shortage,” said Michelle Kuo ’03, volunteer director at the shelter. “This year is just a continuation of that.”

The AAB has tabled outside the Science Center and inside Annenberg since last Thursday, requesting funds and non-perishable food. All 24 members of the AAB are taking part in the drive.

Wei Wang ’04, a member of the AAB, said that the drive has yielded over 30 cans of food and about $700.

Some students attributed the drive’s success to the AAB’s effective—and unorthodox—solicitation techniques.

“They were very enthusiastic, but they weren’t pushy. They seemed to be a positive presence,” said Andrew J. Conrad ’05, who volunteers at the shelter. “After I gave them a dollar, one of them balanced a chair on his chin for me.”

Robert S. Lim ’02, the community service chair for the AAB, said that last year’s food drive raised a total of only $300—about the same amount already raised this week.

“This year, we got a little bit of an earlier start and raised a little bit more money,” Lim said.

The AAB’s contributions have not gone unnoticed.

“During [vacation] breaks, the shelter depends a lot on donations from outside sources,” said Thomas Blair ’03, an advocacy director for the shelter. “Food drives like this are important.”

Both Wang and Lim expressed gratitude to the members of the Harvard community for their altruism.

“I think it’s great that the students are helping out so much,” Lim said.

The group’s Thanksgiving food drive will conclude today, with AAB members tabling outside of the Science Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and inside Annenberg during dinnertime.