Spreading Holiday Cheer this Season

Photos courtesy of CARP Bay Area and Westminster chapters

“In December 2017, when I attended a Divine Principle retreat, I thought ‘never in a million years am I going to start CARP at my campus’ — and yet, by the end of the retreat, I was strategizing how to pioneer a chapter with my mentors,” said Alicia Kuhlmann, a nursing student at Westminster College in Utah.

Three years later, and after overcoming many hurdles, Kuhlmann has a thriving CARP chapter on her Salt Lake City campus. On November 22, the group hosted a successful food truck fundraiser benefiting a local food bank this holiday season.

“I was determined from the deepest sincerity of my heart to be united with God in overtaking my campus with love,” said Kuhlmann regarding her inspiration to establish CARP at her school. Her team organized a campus-wide service project partnering with “The Ramen Mobile” food truck, which donated 50 percent of its profits to the Utah Food Bank.

“We were able to donate more than $250,” said Kuhlmann. “And it was a pleasure to have national CARP team member Chungbom Katayama join us during the event.” The group connected with more than 70 people on campus thanks to the food truck, while also putting their Unificationist faith into practice.  

“It was a joy to make this dream a reality in engaging the greater Westminster community in embodying one of the core values of CARP: living for the sake of others, while feeding people during winter season,” said Kuhlmann. “What does it mean to live for the sake of others? Love is to give, forget you have given, and want to give again.”

CARP members in other parts of the country are also serving their communities in the holiday spirit. The Bay Area chapter, led by Julia Chai, joined several local nonprofits and churches on Nov. 22 to prepare boxes of fresh produce, canned goods, turkeys, chickens, and Thanksgiving ingredients to distribute to families from the Oakland community.

“We gathered with volunteers and Pastor Mustafa from B.A.S.I.C Ministry, Ground Game Ministry, Elevate Gospel Outreach, B.H. Brilliant Minds Project, Inc., Euniece Law Foundation, Bridge Association, BAFC YAM, and YSP USA,” said Chai. “We set up tables and equipment for the Thanksgiving grocery giveaway at Elmhurst Park. There was excitement in the air as young volunteers from various ministries worked together to move equipment to prepare for the event.”

In 2020, more than 37 million people nationwide lived in poverty, according to the U.S. Census, with food insecurity and hunger being primary issues. About four in 10 Americans reported they experienced food insecurity for the first time during the pandemic, according to a poll conducted by two market research companies. CARP, which promotes selfless ideals and principles, has been responsive to this widespread problem.

“Working together as a unit, we unloaded boxes quickly and organized everything to be well prepared for the evening... and then residents began to trickle in,” said Chai. “You could hear the chatter gradually increase and see the lights of cars driving up to the side of the park. There was excitement in the air.”

“When I saw the first family walk up, I was excited,” she said. “I was waiting for an hour for this moment to meet these people and finally they were here. I didn’t know who they would be, what they would look like, but it didn’t matter. I just wanted to connect and give to them through what I can by offering food.” 

The service project drew a large turnout. Even city council member Treva Reid, a candidate for Oakland mayor, attended the food giveaway to support the community.

“She was happy to see everyone and inspired by how we, as young people, have been going out to serve and support different projects in the community,” said Chai. “It was a great evening filled with love, care, and connection to remind us all to count our blessings, have an attitude of gratitude, and live for the sake of others.”

You can submit a story idea from your community to info@unification.org.

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