UpDate - Vol. 12, No. 5, Page 1                                
October 1, 1992                                                
Days of Caring offers staff new perspectives on giving         
                                                               
     I was touched by the little babies. From 1 year old, there they 
were, hungry and homeless. I have a 5-year-old, and I couldn't help  
but think how blessed she is," Joyce Dennis, assistant to the director        
of employee services and co-chair of the University's United Way     
Campaign, said.                                                      
     Dennis saw these hungry faces at Wilmington's Emmanuel Dining   
Room, where five University employees volunteered recently to serve  
lunch to the homeless.                                               
     The opportunity was part of the United Way's Days of Caring, a  
new program that allows United Way donors to see their volunteer     
dollars at work by volunteering at a United Way agency.              
     For Sharon Allen, records clerk at the University Bookstore, and
Nora Faust, records coordinator in housing and residence life,       
volunteering at Emmanuel provided a meaningful glimpse into another  
kind of life. They came away feeling good about the work that is being        
done and saw a need for much more.                                   
     "I've always been interested in helping in some way," Allen said.  
"When I give my United Way donation, I always designate it for       
Emmanuel. It was very interesting to see how it operates. I was very 
pleased.                                                             
     "It was rewarding and I was glad to be able to help. But there  
are just so many people to feed. It's all very well organized and very        
clean. Everyone who works there has a very loving and caring         
attitude.                                                            
     "I think I've always been interested in the dining room because 
it provides such a basic need. People can't do much else in life if  
they're hungry."                                                     
     Faust echoed Allen's sentiments, saying her experience was      
"fantastic."                                                         
     "For years I've been sending food to Emmanuel through my church.
When I read about the Days of Caring in UpDate and talked to the     
coordinator, I didn't have much preference about where I wanted to   
work. Then she suggested working with the elderly or homeless and I  
knew-bingo-that's what I wanted to do.                               
     "I really wanted to see how Emmanuel worked, and I was so pleased  
to see the homeless treated with such respect and dignity.           
     "They do such an extensive job. I just wish there was more      
everyone could do. I think we served 200 people that day-they serve  
close to that every day, I think-all from noon to 1 p.m. It's quite a
feat. The meals are provided by 88 churches and synagogues. The day we        
worked, the group that provided the meal sent ham sandwiches, macaroni        
salad, apples and brownies.                                          
     "We served men, women and children-real little guys who needed  
booster chairs. Everyone seemed so appreciative. Talking to these    
people you really see how, in many cases, things have a domino effect.        
First, they'd lose their job, then they'd lose their families and the
next thing... they're homeless."                                     
     Other University employees participating in Days of Caring at   
Emmanuel were Darlene Sharp, senior administrative assistant in      
employee services; and James D. Doctson, coordinator in employee     
services. Judy Hahn, assistant to the dean in the College of Nursing,
was the University's Days of Caring Coordinator.                     
     Emmanuel Dining Hall is one of many social service agencies in     
the area supported by United Way of Delaware.                        
                                        -Beth Thomas                 
                                                               
     The University's United Way Campaign will be conducted from     
Oct. 15-29. More information will be provided in future issues of    
UpDate.