Everything about a Zip-Lock bag is pleasing: its transparency, its non-reactive polyethylene, the feeling of the zip finishing locking, its ability to turn entropic chaos into compartmentalized bliss. Truly, these human-hair-thin baggies are the greatest invention to come out of the last century.
Feed My Starving Children can only best be described as industrial Zip-Locking, industrially revolutionizing the happiness gotten from the process. It was simply a delight working with over a hundred people in tandem to sustain others half a world away. It was just like packing my lunch — simple, methodical, cathartic — except for thousands of people in need.
The satisfying action of packing the food into boxes neatly arranged onto pallets to be air-lifted to the Philippines was only accentuated by the lively social atmosphere generated by the organizers. These experienced millennials were clearly in the know of all the hip pop tunes breezing the airways. Furiously packing dehydrated grains to the sound of Ke$ha was when I most felt alive (never underestimate Ke$sha).
Of course, everyone else felt this way too; it was easy to talk to my copackers, so I had the opportunity to meet some fellow Rose Scholars, Ithacans, and employees from the organization for which we were volunteering. It was simply a delight.
I’d encourage anyone with the opportunity to take the chance and volunteer for this community service in the future.
So, if one thing is to be taken away from this experience, it is to never underestimate the Zip-Lock bag.
You wrote a very elegant and fun account of your food packing experience. I have been to this service last year, with my RA. It was really fun and meaningful engaging in this service. Your description of something as simple as a Zip-lock, and its extremely extraordinary utility was a nice story to read and a new, enlightening perspective!
I participated for the first time this year and will gladly do so again! This fun but also humbling experience reminded me that there are millions of people that are impoverished, who depend on the food that was packed on the zip-locked bags. I’m glad that you enjoyed this activity and hopefully will do so again in future years!
Wow, I love the metaphor you used here to describe your experience! It was simple yet beautifully captured why exactly this cause was important. I’ve never thought about how this kind of event can generate a sense of community; I didn’t have time to participate this year but I will definitely keep an eye out for a similar one next semester.