Pandemic reshapes service projects around Milwaukee
Volunteers find new ways to collaborate on helping others in need
Monica Williams was determined to have her family do something as part of the national day of service to honor Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy. So, the family of four turned their kitchen counter into an assembly line, making ham and turkey sandwiches to feed Milwaukee’s homeless.
“Feeding the hungry, I feel like is way more important than just sitting and watching a video,” Williams said as she donned plastic gloves and lined her kitchen counter with parchment paper.
Her husband, Dyalon Sr., and their two sons, Dyalon Jr. (DJ), 17, and Dorian, 10, assembled the sandwiches, adding a slice of American cheese and then passing them down the line to mom, who slipped them into sandwich bags.
In all they made 35 sandwiches. The campaign was a collaborative effort between Just One More Ministry, a food recovery program, and Bay Bridge, an organization founded to advance social and racial justice in the community.
The coronavirus pandemic made large gatherings impossible this King Day.
Most events shifted online for virtual webinars and speeches on King’s legacy of racial and social justice. But the sandwich-blitz was one of many ways area residents were able to navigate around the pandemic, doing service projects solo or in small groups.
Monica Williams said she felt empowered to do something since she usually had to work on the holiday. A new job with Northwestern Mutual gave her the day off, so she wanted to spend it in a day of service.
She searched online for events, but none jumped out at her until she came across the blitz. She thought it would be the perfect opportunity to get the family involved in something that could become a tradition for the King holiday.
Her oldest son, DJ, was surprised when his mom first proposed the activity, but found it rewarding.
“We usually don’t get to do stuff like this,” said DJ, who attends Rufus King High School. “This is great. We get to feed the hungry, people who are less fortunate than we are and that’s always a blessing to do. Any chance we get to do something like this, I’m al
“One of Dr. King’s goals is for us to build community together and this is a perfect example of uniting people to build community.”
Anne O’Connor Co-founder of Bay Bridge
ways down to do it no matter what because it is better than what I would be doing right now, which is probably playing video games.”
At the Whitefish Bay drop-off site for the sandwich blitz, a steady stream of cars and people dropped off bags and trays filled with ham and turkey sandwiches.
Anne O’Connor, a co-founder of Bay Bridge, said the response was overwhelming. The goal was to get 50 families to participate and take two loaves of bread to make 20 sandwiches.
In the end, they expected to collect 2,500 sandwiches from 100 participants.
“One of Dr. King’s goals is for us to build community together and this is a perfect example of uniting people to build community,” O’Connor said. “People are willing to help and looking for ways to get involved. It is just providing that mechanism and breaking it down into manageable pieces.”
Brothers Adam and Liam Riese dropped off their tray of sandwiches with mom in tow.
They made the trip from Mequon to deliver the sandwiches after getting up at 8:30 a.m. to make them. The brothers were looking for volunteer opportunities to earn service-learning hours, when their mom suggested this project. They thought it was a good idea.
“We’re encouraged to do community service through our high school and our church. So we are doing this for hours,” said Liam Riese, 14. “But not only that, it is also great to give back to the community.”
Adam Riese, 16, agreed.
“I think it was important to give back to the community, especially on Martin Luther King Day,” he said. “Obviously he did a lot for our community and he kind of changed things in America. I think it is important, even if we do a little, just to change things for the better; to help people in need.”