USD Magazine Spring 2006

[ I ] I S F O R IMMI GRANT

Immigrants at both the South

Sudan Community Center and the

International Rescue Committee’s

First Things First program benefit

from the talents of USD students.

FTF offers English literacy help for

mothers of preschoolers. At the

SSCC, USD volunteers mentor chil-

dren and offer homework help.

Senior Meredith Stocking, USD’s

site coordinator for both pro-

[ K ] I S F O R K I T C H E N

[ J ] I S F O R J U V E N I L E S

[ L ] I S F O R L E G A L C L I N I C S

grams, gets inspiration from vol-

unteering. “It gives me a lot of per-

Ever wonder what happens to

Downtown San Diego’s Toussaint

spective on how blessed I am,” she

all the campus food when the

Academy of the Arts and

You’re a single mother cleaning

says. Stocking recently helped a

students aren’t around to eat it?

Sciences serves teens in need of

houses and you’ve been hit with a

woman who is learning English

For the past eight years, when

a home; USD alum John Weiss ‘03

half-million dollar tax bill incurred

work on health-related vocabulary

Christmas break arrives, Dining

(M.S.E.L.) and fellow alums find

by your criminal ex-husband who’s

since she wants to go into health

Services packs up the perishables

teaching self-leadership there

committed fraud and fled the

care. “For me, volunteering is

from each campus dining outlet

extremely fulfilling: “The kids see

country. Where to turn for help?

about learning and connecting

and donates them to the Third

that we’re just average people

USD Legal Clinics exists for situa-

with people.”

Avenue Charitable Organization

who are successful.” Along with

tions just like that one, and did, in

(TACO). The food is then distrib-

teaching life skills, the group

fact, help the woman rid herself of

uted to people in need, including

helps out with internships, jobs,

the bill. Other clinic specialties

the homeless and local shelters.

grants and letters of recommen-

include helping children get their

Go to www.firstlutheransd.org/

dation. To learn more, go to

special needs met by their schools.

Outreach/taco.html.

www.toussaintacademy.org.

Call (619) 260-7470.

SPRING 2006 31