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During a missionary trip to Chihuahua, Mexico, when he was an undergrad, Felix Colon Jr., a ΢��Ȧ 2020 M.S.W. graduate, decided that he wanted to have a career in which he could provide for others.

“This missionary trip motivated me to continue my education in social work,” he says.

During the pandemic Colon has been putting that desire into practice, working at Connecting for Children and Families, a community-based, nonprofit organization that has been located in Woonsocket since 1995. He is helping at the organization’s food pantry and advertising the availability of that service through various social media accounts.

“We are reaching out to the community to let them know the food pantry is still open during the pandemic. Also, we are working with local senior housing, other agencies, and housing complexes to arrange drop-offs of food for either their residents or clients,” he explains.

Although Colon knows he is putting himself at risk, everyday he goes to work thinking that if his own family members were in need of food, he would do whatever he could to help. “I think about everyone else who is struggling during this time,” he says. “Many are out of work and I’m not. We shouldn’t have to stress about not having food the next day.”

In addition to working on-site at the pantry, Colon delivers food to the client’s homes when people are not able or do not feel safe to go out.

Colon says that this crisis is changing him and his priorities. “I realize that I should be grateful for everything at this moment,” he says. “Also, I appreciate how important it is to have an emergency fund and budget in order to stay financially secured.”

“People should remain calm and be aware that they are not the only ones stressing about the crisis. Sometimes people forget that there are others struggling,” he concludes. “Everyone should take care of themselves, but also help others in need if it is possible.”