Friday, November 8, 2024
Photos by Wayne R. Sheppard, assistant professor of construction management; and Jennifer A. Cline, writer/magazine editor
Twenty-six students in Penn College’s Construction Management Association lent their hands last week to a local mission project with a global reach – including to a nation many of the students have visited through a Penn College Global Experience course.
The student volunteers visited Experience Missions in Old Lycoming Township, where, with their adviser, Wayne R. Sheppard, assistant professor of construction management, they packed 9,500 meals, 448 medical packs and several other aid packages.
Sean P. Smith (left), of Long Valley, N.J., adds rice to a bag held by Noah H. Jumper (center), of Mifflinburg, while David J. Smith, of Meshoppen, prepares to add vegetables.
The meals – consisting of rice, lentils and dehydrated vegetables – were packaged and sealed in six-serving bags. They will be distributed by Kids Around the World to poor communities in the Dominican Republic, Uganda and Ecuador.
“My freshman year, I went to the Dominican Republic with Shep on a mission trip,” said student Joshua A. Gutenson, of Oakton, Virginia. “I got to see the people there and the help they needed. When I was told this food would go to help there, I thought it would be a great opportunity.”
Sheppard and Rob Cooley, professor of anthropology/environmental science, teach Cultural Immersion & Service Learning, a class that culminates in a trip to the Dominican Republic, where, for the past two years, students have built houses, distributed water filtration systems and provided other services. (In 2024, the class was also taught by Christine Kavanagh, a recently retired member of the nursing faculty.)
The medical packs students assembled at Experience Missions are filled with gauze and hygiene supplies and distributed through a partner ministry called Voice of the Martyrs. Experience Missions also packs and provides hygiene kits and school supply kits.
Connor D. Potutschnig (left), of Flinton, and Austin W. Pusey, of Whaleyville, Md., add items to gauze packs, which will be added to larger medical packs.
“My wife and I founded the project 13 years ago because we wanted to give our churches and our community a way to do hands-on mission work tangibly,” said Experience Missions’ Paul Kinley, who guided the Construction Management Association during their three-hour packing session. “Experience Missions fills the gap between the local church and community and global missions.”
“They are not receiving extra credit,” Sheppard said of the Construction Management Association members who volunteered. “They’re just helping because they wanted to help.”
The students appreciated the chance to serve others.
“I felt like I haven’t done a lot of charity work, so here was my opportunity to help,” said Justin S. Lesser, a first-year student from Bethlehem. “I wanted to come do this.”
Students receive instruction from a veteran volunteer.
Students cheerfully staff a meal-packing assembly line.
Novalee M. Machemer, of Leesport, packages gauze.
Each student has a job: From opening and holding the bag in place, to measuring and adding ingredients, to sealing bags and counting and boxing the final product.
Justin S. Lesser, of Bethlehem, and Natani H. Wright, of Williamsport, count rolls of medical tape.
Zoe A. Duhon (left), of Charleroi, and Dante F. Cruz, of Williamsport, seal filled bags and add labels.
Each package contains six servings.
From left: Brandon M. Vaughn, of Chambersburg; James C. Fretz, of Collegeville; and Kieran F. Curley, of Montrose, fill roles in meal packaging.
The Construction Management Association gathers with organizers and other volunteers.
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