With Halloween right around the corner and Her Campus Brandeis getting into the spirit we interviewed Rose Wallace, one of the coordinators for Waltham Group’s Hunger and Homelessness Program and got the scoop on Halloween for the Hungry!
Year: Junior
Major/Minor: Politics & Economics (Majors) Women’s and Gender Studies (Minor)
Hometown: Ellicott City, Maryland
Her Campus: What are you involved with on campus?
Rose Wallace: Coordinator for Waltham Group’s Hunger and Homelessness Program, Community Advisor in East Quad, member of Bad Grammer Improv Comedy Troupe and choreographer/dancer for Adagio Dance Company
HC: How long have you been a CA?
RW: This is my first year.
HC: What has been your favorite part about being a CA?
RW: I love my fellow CA staff, they are all such hard-working, caring, supportive and dedicated individuals. We all have each others backs so if one of us is stressed out or needs advice we can always turn to one another.
HC: How long have you been involved with Adagio?
RW: Since fall semester sophomore year. (I was a transfer student so that was my first semester here).
HC: How long have you been dancing for?
RW: I’ve danced on and off since I was very young but I didn’t start really taking classes until seventh grade.
HC: What is your favorite dance you have been in or choreographed for?
RW: Last spring I choreographed a piece to the song Settle Down by Kimbra. This was the first piece I’d choreographed at Brandeis and it turned out so well! All throughout the rehearsal process I kept telling my dancers to bring some sassiness into their dancing and they really brought it when it came time for the performance.
HC: What does Hunger and Homelessness do in Waltham Group?
RW: We organize service events to combat food insecurity in Waltham and the greater Boston Area. This includes our Halloween for the Hungry Food Drive in the fall and our Sock and Clothing Drive in the spring. We also run the Brandeis Be Our Guest (BBOG) Program every Friday where we go to the Waltham Community Day Center, a shelter for those experiencing homelessness and food insecurity in Waltham. There we cook food donated by Brandeis students and then share a meal and talk with the guests. This year we are also expanding our educational and outreach efforts so we are hoping to do some lobbying at the Massachusetts State House as well as a Deis Impact Presentation about homelessness.
HC: When did Halloween for the Hungry start?
RW: Halloween for the Hungry started in 1976, so this year is our 28th annual drive.
HC: What is the goal for Halloween for the Hungry?
RW: Our collection goal is 4,500 cans which translates into about 3,375 meals!
HC: Funniest story from Halloween for the Hungry you have heard or experienced?
RW: It has been rumored that in years past the ghost of Louis Brandeis has tried to volunteer with us to continue his social justice mission. Unfortunately since he’s a ghost it is a little hard for him to carry canned goods.
HC: How can people sign up for Halloween for the Hungry?
RW: Go to tinyurl.com/h4hwalthamgroup and if anyone has further questions they can email me or h4hwalthamgroup@gmail.com
Favorites:
Book: Atonement by Ian McEwan
Movie: Hot Fuzz
Place on campus to get a meal: Usdan (those omelettes tho)
Off-Campus spot: The Fenway Victory Gardens
Celebrity Crush: Donald Glover (Aka Childish Gambino)