LYNN — Between packing lunches, cutting up vegetables, and making sandwiches, students from Salem State University had their hands full helping out regular volunteers at My Brother’s Table, a soup kitchen in Lynn.
“I like helping people out,” said freshman Khristel Ortez while slathering jelly on bread for PB&J sandwiches. “I know a lot of people need food, so I might as well give back.”
The outreach program through Salem State University, dubbed First Year Day of Service, is in its fifth year. Besides helping at My Brother’s Table in Lynn, the First Year Day of Service teams volunteered at nonprofits in Lynn, Salem, Marblehead, Peabody and Beverly.
Freshman Laurry Brunache said she was happy to be able to contribute to the community. She said that giving back makes her feel like she’s doing something to help, even in a small way.
“I feel like you get closer to your community and you can get to know new people,” Brunache said while cutting vegetables for the dinner service.
The program was suspended in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but has returned with a lot of support, said Salem State University President John Keenan.
“This is what Salem State University is all about,” Keenan said as he watched the students jump right into helping volunteers. “On day one, the students get to serve their community and help awesome people.”
Hanna McDonald, a senior and the orientation team leader, said First Year Day of Service was one of her favorite programs and she was excited to do it one more time before her graduation.
“I didn’t know how to volunteer until this opportunity.” McDonald said, explaining that she had done volunteer work with the Make-a-Wish Foundation in high school, but had not had a chance to do much else since then. “I wish I had done this my freshman year.”
Mary Frere, a volunteer at My Brother’s Table for the past six months, said she was excited to see young people get involved with the soup kitchen.
“I hope this inspires others to come and volunteer,” Frere said. “We could always use the help.”
My Brother’s Table has served over five million hot meals since it opened in 1982; it served nearly 800,000 meals in 2020 alone.
Mary Mayner, a board member and volunteer for the soup kitchen, said she loves seeing new faces come in to volunteer.
“It brings out the best in people,” Mayner said. “We’ve worked with a lot of people in the community and we’re glad to see them giving back.”
Katelyn Sahagian can be reached at [email protected].
