b'100SEED SPECIAL REPORTand several pieces of wood with rusty nails, I was inspiredused to volunteer has not yet reopened due to COVID-19, by the potential collective impact all the volunteers hadI discovered St. Marys by browsing the internet for on this single day, as I observed the large mound ofalternatives. St. Marys Church has been operating a soup trash we all collected being sorted by other volunteerskitchen since 1996 by serving its guests restaurant for recycling. In the process of gathering my trash, I wasstyle inside the church building. Although the COVID-19 so pleased to see a few of my colleagues from SCOA,pandemic forced the church to suspend its operations in including Mr. Furukawa and Mr. Ito, both of whom joinedMarch 2020, dedicated volunteers reopened a takeout with their wives and daughters. Meeting them uplifted andoperation in July 2020, and they have been consistently encouraged me. I realized that while volunteering withfeeding the community even during the pandemic. On so many people for a good cause is fun, I believe it isMay 23rd, I prepared approximately 125 takeout dinners even more enjoyable when shared with family, friends andwith 8 other individuals. Each nutritious meal included colleagues.chicken, rice, beans, fresh fruit, a drink, and dessert. I Sander Doubles Down on Day of Service - was moved by seeing the many guests expressing their Heads to NJ Soup Kitchen sincere appreciation for the soup kitchen operation while On Sunday, May 23rd, I volunteered at a soup kitchenpicking up their meals, particularly as they learned we that serves meals to needy individuals in Plainfield, Newhad more than enough for them to take an extra meal for Jersey. I selected St. Marys soup kitchen because Ia friend or relative. The experience helped deepen my wanted to help homeless people in the New York Cityown understanding about the interconnections between area. After learning that the homeless shelter where Iempathy, generosity and appreciation. New YorkClaudia Martinez (left)and Amy Smith (above) New York OfficeBranch Brook Park AllianceClaudia Martinez and Amy Smith volunteered at Branch Brook park in Newark NJ on May 14th. We worked with a large group of volunteersalongside landscape architects from the Branch Brook Park Alliance to weed and then plant new bushes, shrubs and trees throughout different areas of the park, stated Amy Smith. The BBPAs mission is to continually restore the park andrenew the spirit of the community by bringingpeople of all ages and backgrounds together,and to engender pride of place and a sense of ownership in the entire community.3 100SEED Special Insert to InterfaceJune 2021'