First Light is an emergency shelter accepting homeless women and homeless women with children 24 hours a day. Samford's Department of Family Studies has maintained a collaboration with the First Light Shelter for seven years, through our Family Life Education service-learning course. That relationship deepened this past academic year when the student members of the National Council on Family Relations and their sponsor, Dr. Jonathan Davis, worked with Samford's executive chef, Chris Vizzina, to serve breakfast on several occasions to those taking refuge at First Light. "Chris has been wonderful, preparing the entire meal beforehand (though the students were willing to help) and organizing transportation to the shelter, where our students mingle with the homeless women and take turns on the serving line," said Dr. Davis.
The world is better because of Samford's service to God, to family, to one another, and to the community.