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By Dan Nonte, University Relations
Contact: (336) 334-4314
Posted 5-19-09
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Nicole Fauble, a 2008 graduate of UNCG, provides assistance to the homeless at Miriam’s Kitchen in Washington as a member of the Lutheran Volunteer Corps.
Although only eight blocks from the White House, her workplace is usually far removed from the capital’s political glamour. That changed, at least for a day, in March when Michelle Obama visited Miriam’s Kitchen to serve lunch (risotto with mushrooms, steamed broccoli, apple-carrot muffins and salad) and to promote public service.
Like many of the program’s guests, Nicole found herself with tears in her eyes. When she had the opportunity to shake the First Lady’s hand, she was too nervous to do so.
“I was petrified,” she said. “I never thought I would be in the same room as the First Lady.”
Nicole, a Wilmington native who majored in social work, found herself in the media spotlight again the following month when USA Today published a column by the First Lady praising the idealism and service of young people. Obama used Nicole as an example of young people making a difference.
The April 13 column – Nation Needs Youthful Idealism More Than Ever – is available online.
As for her work, Nicole said it continues as it did before. She bikes the two miles from her apartment to Miriam’s Kitchen, arriving by 6 a.m. each weekday in order to check the nonprofit’s voicemail and post the names of those with messages before the doors open at 6:30.
The homeless can give out the phone number to family and friends. They can also have their mail sent to the nonprofit’s post office box. She and other workers make sure their cart of supplies is stocked with soap, shampoo, razors and other toiletries.
Anywhere from 75 to 150 homeless people, mostly men, come in when Miriam’s Kitchen opens. Some have been waiting outside 5 a.m. Last year, the nonprofit served 55,272 meals to more than 4,000 guests.
The guests come for a healthy breakfast and help from caseworkers like Nicole. She works one-on-one with a handful of people on a regular basis. Others drop in every month or two. Some she meets only once.
The needs of the guests vary widely. In addition to help with immediate needs such as food, clothing, toiletries and bus tokens, she helps people find permanent housing and jobs as well as medical, mental health and substance abuse services.
“Some people aren’t ready to work on ‘big picture’ things,” she said. “For some, just me saying ‘hello’ and sitting next to them for a couple of minutes while they eat breakfast is an important role I play in their lives.”
Nicole reports the work is tremendously rewarding. So much so that she recently signed up for a second year with the Lutheran Volunteer Corps, which will keep her at Miriam’s Kitchen through August 2010.