MIT GCF Activities -- Service

As Christians, we are called by God to serve our community. When we look around us, we see so many who are not as fortunate as us. God's love and sacrifice motivates us to help the needy, and that's why we consider it a privilege to serve others.

We worked with the Salvation Army in Cambridge for about two years (1999-2001), helping them conduct surveys of the homeless in Cambridge. The motivation is to understand the root causes of homelessness, which shelters and services are most valuable, and how the city of Cambridge can help out.

We analyzed the survey data and worked on a report to the City of Cambridge. Our project was featured in an upcoming issue of Priority Magazine, the magazine of the USA East section of the Salvation Army.

We also participated in the MIT Graduate Student Volunteer Day on February 9, 2002, where we helped out at the Salvation Army shelter for the whole day. Out of that effort came a very extensive project where we are designing an automated data collection method for the drop-in center. We have received funding from the 2002 MIT IDEAS Competition and the MIT Community Service Fund.

In the fall of 2000, GCF, along with the Tech Catholic Community, volunteered at Sylvia's Haven, a shelter in Devens, MA for homeless women and their children. Women who qualify for the program will be provided with a furnished house, career connections, and emotional support. GCF helped with the painting of six of these houses.

To learn more about GCF, please e-mail:mit-gcf-info@mit.edu