McKendree University - Second Chance Center/Family Living Center

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Second Chance Center/Family Living Center

Second Chance Center/Family Living Center

What is it? Second Chance Shelter/Family Living Center in East St. Louis provides emergency housing for homeless families.

What do I do there? Students go to the shelter to play with children so that the parents can have some time to themselves.

When is it? Meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:30 P.M. at Upper Deneen; transportation is provided. Volunteers will be back at 8:00 P.M.

Why would I want to do that? In addition to just playing games and having fun with the kids, volunteers gain a valuable understanding of what homelessness is and how it is impacting families today.

*New! Meet the Coordinators!*

--Kateyln Motl is a Sophomore majoring in International Relations with a minor in Social Work. She is an Office Aide at the CPS, which she calls her "home away from home," and is also involved in Alpha Phi Omega and Students Against Social Injustice (SASI). She also enjoys reading good textbooks, event-planning, making and listening to music, eating breakfast and sleeping in.

Katelyn is involved with Second Chance/Family Living Center because she loves "working with hunger and homelessness issues and attempting to make a difference in kids’ lives. Also, it’s a ton of fun!"

Katelyn's most embarrassing volunteer experience? "The most embarrassing experience was definitely when I was working in a soup kitchen, making breakfast, and I had a whole flat (about 64) of eggs, which I was carrying. I slipped on some grease that had fallen off the grill, and dropped about half of the eggs all over myself, the floor and the grill! I REALLY had “egg on my face” then! :-D"

--Sophomore Whitney Musselmann is an Occupational Therapy major seeking a minor in Psychology. She enjoys working at Family Living Center/Second Chance Shelter because she loves working with the children: "I love seeing the smiles on their faces when we arrive."

Musselmann is also a member of the Psychology Club and enjoys spending time with her family, exercising and hiking. She is also a certified scuba diver. She describes how she became involved in service: "I volunteered for a local United Cerebral Palsy day camp. I love working with children with abnormalities. They are so loving!"

--Jake Rohman is a Junior majoring in Secondary Education and minoring in Mathematics. He helps coordinate Family Living Center and Second Chance Shelter because he enjoys "being around children and making them laugh. They really enjoy our company and I enjoy their company!"

Rohman enjoys "shooting the breeze with someone who can tell a good story," classic rock music and golf. He also serves as a Resident Assistant (RA) and plays football.

Rohman's most meaningful community service experience was when he "was helping a girl at CAC one time with her math homework and she was really struggling. After I helped her she thanked me and gave me a big hug....I knew I had helped with her homework, but I didn't know until then how much our visits mean to the people we see!"