Huck House Service Event

The Event I attended was The Huck House Service day event on Saturday, November 2 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. This event fulfills my service requirement.

The event was centered around supporting and helping those currently living at Huck House. Huck House provides refuge for teenagers exclusively, who have been impacted by some form of domestic violence, parental abuse or any other struggles at home. For many teenagers, it is a safe space for them to come to when they no longer feel comfortable remaining at home. Some come of their own volition and others are dropped off by their parents. Because these children are minors, if they were to come on their home, the staff at Huck House are required to get consent from their parents in order to house them. One goal for those living in Huck House is to get them back with their families and their homes if reconciliation is possible. It is meant to be a temporary home where they are able to regain some stability and eventually return to their lives. The staff and leaders wholeheartedly want the kids to have a good relationship with their families, if at all possible.

The teenagers living there are given hot meals, activities, and are expected to carry their weight around the house to keep it orderly. While we were there, we helped them to clean up a bit and to sort various items that had been donated. They are always in need or donations since teenagers run through things pretty quick such as deodorant and shampoo. I really enjoyed being able to sort through the donated things because I never thought about the importance of the little things, such as these products.

It was so important for me to be able to attend a service event such as this because the people living here are so close to my age. We may often feel very disconnected from one another, specifically those in need, but going to Huck House reminded me how vital it is to support members of my community in any way I can. Although there are those in need internationally, there are also those in need in right in our neighborhood who are just like like anyone else. The only difference is they are experiencing much more difficult lives at home that are affecting their ability to do well in school and live the life of any other normal teenager. I think it’s vital that we all try our best to interact with our community as much as possible in order to really engage with the members of that community. It’s easy to get sucked into the bubble that is Ohio State while never once stepping out of my comfort zone so this trip to Huck House served as a bit of a wake up call for me. I found the experience very impactful and I hope to be able to return and help out again or donate anything I can to help these teenagers lead the lives they want to