February 2024 Newsletter
Hey, Highlanders! Can you believe that we’re almost halfway through the spring semester? In a little over a week, Spring I will be finished and we’ll all (hopefully) be resting for a week of break! This month’s theme is community service, and we hope you’ll feel inspired to get involved at McLennan or in the community.
A little note: CREW is committed to improving the student experience by alleviating non-academic stressors you might face, and we’re constantly assessing how we can best serve the McLennan community. This semester is no exception!
There are a number of ways you can connect with us and offer feedback or imagine creative partnerships. Subscribe to our Google calendar for real-time event updates and connect with us in person. Schedule an appointment to connect with one of the CREW staff members. Or email or call us at 254-299-8561 — any time!
Spotlight: On-Campus Resources
The Student Life Center has been hitting record numbers of weekly visitors this year, and we want to make sure you know about this awesome space! The SLC hosts a variety of events each month, including karaoke, tournaments, and our Third Thursday Thoroughfare (pizza + resources). Check out the SLC calendar and Instagram page for all the updates.
Not only is the SLC a great place to decompress between classes, but it’s also the place to get connected with Student Organizations. Student orgs can help you find connection and community, contribute to a cause that’s meaningful to you, hold the potential for leadership experience, and provide something to talk about on your resume or during job interviews. Stop by the SLC or send them an email to get connected!
Spotlight: Off-Campus Resources
Instead of highlighting a resource that serves you, this month we want to offer ways for our Highlander community to give back to the many organizations that faithfully show up for our students and employees. There are SO many ways to get involved in the Waco community, so this list highlights just a few of the organizations that we know need volunteers.
- Shepherd’s Heart – Mobile food distributions or in the warehouse
- Habitat for Humanity
- Communities in Schools
- CASA
- Planned Parenthood
- Care Net
Shout-out!
Shout-out to the theatre department folks who donated dozens of clothing items for our one-day Laci’s Winter Collection clean-out event! We heard great feedback from all the students, staff, and faculty who shopped the clothing racks a few weeks ago.
Self-Care Tip
Do you ever feel lonely? That can be a very vulnerable, scary thing to admit. In a time when we count popularity by likes and follows, it can seem like we’re surrounded by people who know and support us. We are in an age of constant connection, aided by technology and media.
But the reality is that we’re lonelier than ever before—with approximately 60% of Americans reporting feelings of loneliness or isolation. US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy calls this “the epidemic of loneliness” — a problem fueled by a whole host of sociological factors (you can read more in his 2023 Report).
Murthy proposed several potential strategies for mitigating the loneliness many adults feel, and the one I’m sharing might be surprising.
Get out and volunteer in the community.
When we volunteer, we experience meaningful, in-person interactions with other humans, which brings us out of isolation. Additionally, volunteering shifts our focus off ourselves and the things we’re feeling; instead, we experience a little boost in feel-good hormones as we activate our brain’s reward system. Plus, volunteering brings us into proximity with other great humans who share common interests that we might never have met otherwise. Volunteering might provide an emotional support resource we didn’t know we needed!
As students and professionals, it can be daunting to think about adding another commitment to our schedules. The good news is that what’s important is consistency. Whether we volunteer 5 hours a week or 2 hours a month, consistently showing up to the people and the cause that matters is what will allow us to reap the benefits of volunteering.
Want to read more? Here’s an easy-to-read NYT article. Murthy’s book Together explains the science and research behind loneliness and how we might remedy it. And the US Surgeon General’s Report is another great resource.
Easy Recipe
I recently stumbled upon this easy, nutritious, one-pot recipe for a chickpea-based soup, and I immediately thought of the dozens of cans of chickpeas always available in Paulanne’s Pantry. I don’t always know what to do with a can of chickpeas, so I’m excited to try this recipe and thought I’d share this find!
Need any ingredients? Swing by Paulanne’s for some non-perishable goods, frozen meat, fresh fruit, cheese, and/or milk! There’s a good chance we’ll have most of the ingredients for this meal when you stop by to shop the pantry!
Lemony Chickpea Soup (Budget Bytes)
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 18 mins
Total Time: 23 mins
Servings: 4 (1.25 cups each)
INGREDIENTS
- 3 15oz. cans chickpeas, divided
- 4 cloves garlic
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 pinch crushed red pepper
- 1 lemon
- 1/4 tsp salt (or to taste)
- 1/4 tsp Freshly cracked black pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
- Add 2 of the cans of chickpeas to a blender with the liquid in the can and purée until smooth.* Drain the third can of chickpeas and set aside.
- Mince the garlic and add it to a saucepot with the olive oil. Sauté the garlic over medium heat for about one minute, or just until the garlic becomes very fragrant.
- Add the puréed chickpeas, drained chickpeas, chicken broth, thyme, oregano, red pepper, salt, and pepper to the soup pot with the garlic. Stir to combine.
- Allow the soup to come up to a simmer, then simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- While the soup simmers, zest and juice half of the lemon (you'll need about 2 Tbsp juice and ½ tsp zest). Slice the remaining lemon for garnish.
- After the soup has simmered, add 2 Tbsp juice and a pinch of lemon zest, then stir to combine.
- Taste the soup and adjust the salt, lemon juice, pepper, or other herbs to your liking. The amount of salt needed to properly flavor the soup will depend on the salt content of your broth, so make sure to salt to taste at the end.
- Garnish the soup with the remaining lemon slices and zest, a drizzle of olive oil, and more pepper if desired, then serve with crusty bread and enjoy!
NUTRITION (per 1 serving)
Calories: 375 kcal | Carbohydrates: 48 g | Protein: 18 g | Fat: 14 g | Sodium: 1527 mg | Fiber: 15 g
CREW This Month
Thursday, 3/14, 3–4pm @ Parking Lot R || Shepherd’s Heart Food Distribution
Swing by Lot R for FREE food from Shepherd’s Heart! Free and open to anyone in the community!
Thursday, 3/21, 11:30am – 1:30pm @ SLC || Third Thursday Thoroughfare
Come for free lunch and learn about resources in McLennan County just for college students!
More events are available on the CREW calendar! Be sure to save the calendar so you never miss an event!
*Composed by Emma Cartisano*
