Ten students from Friends Select’s new Red Cross Club packaged over 300 meals inside of care packages for the Share Food Program on January 22nd. The Share Food Program’s mission “leads the fight against food insecurity in the Philadelphia region, by serving an expansive, quality partner network of community-based organizations and school districts engaged in food distribution, education and advocacy.”

The Red Cross Club, founded and led by Asa Johnson ‘22 and TJ Hampton ‘22, aspires “to help out our local community in any way that we can,” says Asa. Friends Select recently took part in a phone banking campaign with the Share Food Program. The Red Cross Club drew inspiration from this prior event, and wanted to get their group involved with hands-on action by packaging meals. Due to COVID roadblocks, this was the club’s first service opportunity. “It was exciting to see a great turnout on our first project,” Asa says.

“The experience was great, the environment was great, everyone was working together and getting things done,” says club member Marley Ewell ‘23. He explains why he joined the club: “I felt like I have not done enough for the community and that I have been slacking off when it comes to that. I came [into the] school year looking for a program or group I could join within FSS or outside which would allow me to help the community.”

To get involved with the club’s future endeavors, you can email TJ or Asa. They meet occasionally during Friday lunches. TJ says, “If you don’t feel like joining the club then you can also just search for service opportunities yourself. For example, the Share Food program we did goes on every week, so there are plenty of things to do.”