Acts of Service

"For my act of service, I packed boxes at Feed My Starving Children, where volunteers pack bags of rice combined with soy, vegetables, and vitamins that are shipped to malnourished kids worldwide. These packs can be life-saving, healing children from extreme malnutrition. The experience is simple yet meaningful — set to music, you form an assembly line and fall into a meditative, reflective state. Growing up, volunteering as a family was always a priority, making this especially personal. On this particular day, our group packed 47 boxes containing 36 bags each, totaling 10,152 meals — enough to feed 27 kids a daily meal for an entire year. A powerful reminder of how small actions create enormous impact."

"I deeply enjoyed devoting time and energy in a way that has an immediate and direct impact on our community. I also appreciated the opportunity to spend time with colleagues outside our daily routines; it was wonderful to engage with one another beyond our regular roles. Our day at the Greater Chicago Food Depository supports NLU's spirit of access, engagement, and supporting the health and well-being of our shared community."

"Volunteering at the Greater Chicago Food Depository with the NLU leadership team was both humbling and energizing. Packing nearly 6,000 pounds of food reminded me that service is not abstract—it’s tangible and immediate. Each box represented a family navigating food insecurity, and that awareness made the work deeply personal.

Serving in this way helped me embody the NLU spirit by aligning action with mission. We talk often about access, opportunity, and meeting community needs. This was a direct expression of those values. Leadership isn’t only about strategy; it’s about showing up. Working side by side with colleagues reinforced our shared commitment to service and to Chicago. It was a powerful reminder that our mission extends beyond campus walls and lives in the communities we serve."

"Spending several hours at the Greater Chicagoland Food Depository as part of our 140 Acts of Service initiative was both grounding and energizing. Our leadership team worked side by side sorting donations and boxing food for families facing food insecurity across the region. The work was physical and fast-paced, but what stood out most was our shared sense of purpose — every box we packed represented real meals for real people. Serving alongside colleagues in this context was equally powerful, reminding me that leadership isn't only about conference room decisions, but about showing up and contributing directly to the well-being of the communities we serve."

"Before completing my act of service, I felt genuinely excited to volunteer at the Greater Chicago Food Depository — both to give back and to work alongside my colleagues in a meaningful way. It was incredibly rewarding to connect with my team while knowing our efforts would directly support families experiencing food insecurity. Every task contributed to a larger mission of care and community impact. This experience truly reflects the spirit of National Louis University and its commitment to service beyond the classroom. NLU is more than a university — it is an institution dedicated to serving and uplifting its students and the communities in which they live."

"I really enjoyed this experience.  It taught me so much about what it means to truly give back, and I also learned how acts like this help others in need.  The Greater Chicago Food Depository was quite the operation, in two hours, we packed 5,796 pounds of Starbucks food that could be used for families and others who are food insecure.  I texted my wife and told her that we have to come and do it as a family, it was truly inspiring and eye opening."

"Volunteering at the Chicago Greater Food Depository as a leadership team was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. We worked hard to pack food for two hours and it felt good to see the impact directly. We packed over 5,700 pounds of food that would reach homes and organizations across Chicagoland. Many NLU students have experienced food insecurity, so this felt deeply aligned with our mission. At NLU, we serve our students and empower them toward better futures — volunteering like this means extending that same commitment to our broader community. It was a truly impactful experience."

"Leading a Freedom Dreaming session for high school students at My Block, My Hood, My City was transformative. To hear young people so eager to reshape the future in ways that impacted them and others restored my faith in the future. The space was one of community and care, which is indicative of NLU."

"Donating blood was a humbling and meaningful experience. It reminded me that even a simple act can have a life-saving impact. I was grateful our Executive Director organized an on-campus bloodmobile campaign, making it easy for all of us to give back and make a real difference.

This act of service embodied the NLU spirit by reflecting compassion, community, and social responsibility. It reinforced that being part of NLU means showing up for others and contributing to something greater than ourselves."

"I was very grateful to volunteer with several colleagues in sorting and packing food at the Greater Chicago Food Depository. As an NLU staff member, I find it deeply rewarding to feel part of something greater, to know that we're helping our fellow human beings, and to collectively strive to make the world a better place. I think that ethos is part of the NLU culture and drives us all to serve our students as best as we can, and to help them transform their lives, their families and their communities."

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"I donated double red blood cells which so far have saved 2 lives."

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"Being an advocate in my community, especially for families in need, has shown me the true meaning of leadership. Whether providing food, organizing small community events, or using my own finances to help others during difficult times, I’ve learned that service requires commitment and compassion. When government shutdowns and funding delays affect essential programs, it is often the most vulnerable families who suffer first. Stepping in, even in small ways, reminded me that leadership is not about titles but about action. Supporting families during hardship strengthened my understanding of resilience, empathy, and responsibility."