This summer I had the pleasure of spending six weeks working at the non-profit Sharing Excess in Philadelphia for my Leadership-in-Action placement. The organisation rescues food that would otherwise be wasted and redistributes it across the city to people who need it. Around 20% of households in Philadelphia are facing hunger, and the USA as a whole wastes approximately 40% of its food. Therefore, the mission of this company is of vital importance to fulfil a basic human need as well as to mitigate environmental damage. My time there allowed me to contribute to this cause and build upon the leadership skills taught to me by the Laidlaw Scholarship.
I was placed in the distribution team which meant I was able to work directly towards getting rescued food to its destinations. My role included sorting donated produce, helping to run distribution events, and conducting independent research. My placement was unlike any I have done before and in an unfamiliar location. This experience of foreign environments will definitely help me adapt to future challenges, particularly as I would love to work abroad again. These skills have already helped me in a new endeavour, as I am currently studying abroad in Lund, Sweden, meaning I am having to use adaptability and cultural intelligence.
My summer placement also increased my ability to work collaboratively and practice networking. I enjoyed working alongside the amazing team at Sharing Excess and think I did so effectively. They have since put me in touch with another non-profit that they knew I was interested in, so I am already experiencing exciting ‘snowball’ effects of my Leadership-in-Action. I also used my time in Philadelphia to travel to New York City, where I had a great time meeting with another Laidlaw scholar as well as the Laidlaw coordinator for Columbia University! I also practiced leadership by covering a colleague’s position while they were away. This role was Volunteer Coordinator and meant that I had an important responsibility to communicate with volunteers and use the company’s volunteer management software effectively. It was great to see the successful outcome of this challenge at one of the volunteer events that happened during this period.
I was lucky enough to be with the organisation during their largest event of the year, ‘Free Food Fest’ which is an annual event focused on giving out huge amounts of free food to the community in a fun and enjoyable atmosphere. Another unique event was the governor of Pennsylvania’s visit to the company, which happened to fall on the last day of my placement and was very interesting to witness. I even had a chat with his wife, the first lady of Pennsylvania about how I came to be working there! The visit entailed a large entourage and press coverage, including this article which you can spot me in if you look hard enough! https://www.inquirer.com/food/food-waste-banks-insecurity-wholesale-produce-20220928.html
Thank you very much to the Laidlaw Foundation and Sharing Excess for giving me this opportunity. Please enjoy some photos from my placement and of the city.