Hi everyone! My name is Youjin Lama, and I am a second-year Biomedical Engineering student at Gannon University. This was my first ABST trip, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my experience from our final day in Hamilton.
We started the morning at Cornerstone House, one of the homes of L’Arche Hamilton, where we gathered to plan the day. The colder weather reminded us that our time in Canada was coming to an end. Our main plan was to visit 541 Eatery and Exchange and later volunteer at Good Shepherd Centers.
Our first stop was 541 Eatery and Exchange, a nonprofit community café that recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. One of the most unique parts of the café is its “Button Program,” where each button represents one dollar. People can purchase buttons and leave them for others to use if they cannot afford a meal. This program encourages generosity while allowing people to receive help with dignity. While we were there, the volunteer coordinator shared some of the challenges the café faces, especially with rising food costs and inflation. Despite these difficulties, the café continues to operate because of volunteers and staff who are motivated by compassion and a strong sense of community.
After brunch, we had some time before our next activity, so we walked to a nearby thrift store run by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Earlier in the week, one of the L’Arche core-members had volunteered there, so it was interesting to visit the place he had talked about. On the way there, we also noticed signs of the struggles some people in the community face, including individuals without stable housing. Seeing this reminded us why organizations like the ones we visited are so important.
Later in the afternoon, we went to Good Shepherd, where we helped package food supplies that would be distributed to families in need. Although the work was simple, it required teamwork and organization. One of the staff members thanked our group and mentioned that our help allowed them to move their work forward by several days. It was meaningful to know that even a short time of volunteering could make a difference.
In the evening, we returned to Cornerstone House for dinner with several core members. We spent time talking about our day and reflecting on the week. One of the core-members shared some of his past challenges, but he spoke with a positive attitude that left a strong impression on us. Another member who always joins us asked for our email addresses so we could stay in touch, and he even sent us a message shortly after dinner to say hello.
As the youngest member of the group, this trip had a strong impact on me. I learned not only from the organizations we visited, but also from the core-members, the live-in assistants, and my teammates. Seeing life from different perspectives helped me better understand the importance of empathy, community and service.
