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HCC student Mariah Truax serves sweet potato and pumpkin pie to those gathered for a Thanksgiving meal at the Salvation Army on Wednesday. (By Ric Dugan/Staff Photographer / November 24, 2012) |
When sociology students at Hagerstown Community College first walk through the doors of Daniel Madron’s classroom, they quickly learn their education will extend beyond four walls.
Lessons will be learned at The Salvation Army and REACH Cold Weather Shelter, both in Hagerstown.
They’ll shop for groceries at local supermarkets, then prepare and serve that food to people who, on a daily basis, don’t have access to a decent meal.
Hungry minds will feed hungry stomachs.
And along the way, these students will receive a cold dose of reality.
Food insecurity isn’t something that happens on the other side of the world. It’s visible in their own community. They only have to open their eyes to see it.
That’s why each semester, Madron involves his students in projects that serve the less fortunate.
They have collected about 500 pounds of canned food that was donated to the Community Action Council, and volunteered at the annual Convoy of Hope and at The Salvation Army toy giveaway. And they have prepared and served Thanksgiving meals to individuals and families struggling to put food on their tables.
When Madron arrived at HCC a little more than two years ago, the sociology instructor brought with him the desire to help others.
It’s part of who he is, he will tell you. He can’t ignore that segment of the population that feels isolated because of poverty.
Born and raised in Conowingo, Md., in Cecil County, Madron attended Eastern University outside of Philadelphia for his undergraduate education. He went to the University of Maryland Baltimore County for graduate studies and earned his master of arts degree in applied sociology in 2007. He expects to complete his Ph.D. in public policy in December.
Madron worked as an adjunct instructor at Howard Community College and UMBC before taking the full-time position in Hagerstown.
At almost every juncture of his education and work life, Madron has dedicated himself to helping the less fortunate.
“In undergrad, I organized projects that helped the homeless of Philly,” he said. “When I started teaching at Howard Community College, I decided to get my students involved in projects that would help the homeless of Baltimore City.”
He has continued those outreach efforts in Hagerstown, providing his sociology students with a glimpse of a way of life many of them never knew existed.
Two reasons why
The reasons, Madron said, are twofold.
“First, there is a sociological significance to exposing students to reality. We can break down stereotypes,” he said. “Second, I hope that when these students leave college and get jobs, they will remember the people in need and continue to give back.”
Personally, Madron said there are several driving reasons behind his own desire to help others.
Lessons will be learned at The Salvation Army and REACH Cold Weather Shelter, both in Hagerstown.
They’ll shop for groceries at local supermarkets, then prepare and serve that food to people who, on a daily basis, don’t have access to a decent meal.
Hungry minds will feed hungry stomachs.
And along the way, these students will receive a cold dose of reality.
Food insecurity isn’t something that happens on the other side of the world. It’s visible in their own community. They only have to open their eyes to see it.
That’s why each semester, Madron involves his students in projects that serve the less fortunate.
They have collected about 500 pounds of canned food that was donated to the Community Action Council, and volunteered at the annual Convoy of Hope and at The Salvation Army toy giveaway. And they have prepared and served Thanksgiving meals to individuals and families struggling to put food on their tables.
When Madron arrived at HCC a little more than two years ago, the sociology instructor brought with him the desire to help others.
It’s part of who he is, he will tell you. He can’t ignore that segment of the population that feels isolated because of poverty.
Born and raised in Conowingo, Md., in Cecil County, Madron attended Eastern University outside of Philadelphia for his undergraduate education. He went to the University of Maryland Baltimore County for graduate studies and earned his master of arts degree in applied sociology in 2007. He expects to complete his Ph.D. in public policy in December.
Madron worked as an adjunct instructor at Howard Community College and UMBC before taking the full-time position in Hagerstown.
At almost every juncture of his education and work life, Madron has dedicated himself to helping the less fortunate.
“In undergrad, I organized projects that helped the homeless of Philly,” he said. “When I started teaching at Howard Community College, I decided to get my students involved in projects that would help the homeless of Baltimore City.”
He has continued those outreach efforts in Hagerstown, providing his sociology students with a glimpse of a way of life many of them never knew existed.
Two reasons why
The reasons, Madron said, are twofold.
“First, there is a sociological significance to exposing students to reality. We can break down stereotypes,” he said. “Second, I hope that when these students leave college and get jobs, they will remember the people in need and continue to give back.”
Personally, Madron said there are several driving reasons behind his own desire to help others.
