Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013 Serves The Needy At SOME

Hello world!!!

I hope you and yours are doing well. I've been busy but happy, thanks to the Almighty. On November 26th before sunrise, I volunteered serving breakfast in the dining room at So Others Might Eat, Inc. (SOME) in Washington, District of Columbia. Service and giving back is something that has been instilled in me from a young age, and that is why it is part of my personal platform as Miss Sierra Leone USA, which is Advocating for SHERO (S is for service).

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

So Others Might Eat (SOME) is the only interfaith, community-based organization in the District of Columbia that offers a comprehensive, holistic approach to caring for the homeless and extremely poor citizens of the city. SOME exists to help the poor and homeless of our nation's capital. They meet the immediate daily needs of the people they serve with food, clothing, and health care. They help break the cycle of homelessness by offering services, such as affordable housing, job training, addiction treatment, and counseling, to the poor, the elderly and individuals with mental illness. Each day, SOME is restoring hope and dignity one person at a time.

Left to right:
Miss California 2013 Crystal Lee, Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson, Miss Maryland 2013 Christina M. Denny, and Ms. Tawan (SOME volunteer supervisor)

Coincidentally, Miss California 2013 Crystal Lee and Miss Maryland 2013 Christina Denny were also at SOME serving as volunteers with me. Crystal is the first runner-up to Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri, and Christina finished in the Top 10 at Miss America 2014. This was the first time meeting these ladies but our titles and similar experiences helped us bond as if we've known each other for a while. It was a pleasure meeting these kind ladies, and we had such an awesome time talking about our titles, our pageants, duties and experiences during our reign, and I answered their many questions about Sierra Leone. 

Ms. Tawan, Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson, and some members of the Carlyle Group

Besides me and my fellow queens, there were other volunteers that came individually and in groups. Some groups consisted of students from Catholic University of America (CUA), the Carlyle Group, etc. One of the members of the Carlyle Group is a Hokie alumnus, and of course we high-fived and hugged each other after we discovered we were both Hokies; it's all about Hokie Love! Some of the volunteers, SOME staff, and folks we served breakfast were very interested and curious to know about Sierra Leone, and I was more than happy to have their questions answered. Also, I took lots of pictures with individuals that wanted a photo with me when we had breaks from serving breakfast.

So Others Might Eat (SOME), Inc. volunteers

I loved working with this group of volunteers and we had great chemistry working and serving the people. We really were the definition of teamwork and all efforts made the process very smooth in serving breakfast to the people. Special thanks to our supervisor, Ms. Tawan, for guiding us throughout the process and taking great care of us. Thank you to Seneca Wood, the volunteer coordinator.

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

This was a humbling experience, and I could tell that the folks we served were very grateful for the food and our service. Days like this make me very grateful to the Almighty for what I have but also to be in a position that I can give back to others.

Queens That Serve
Miss Maryland 2013 Christina Denny, Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson, and Miss California 2013 Crystal Lee

"Doing something for others is just the rent you pay for living on Earth" Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole

Ruby B. Johnson,

Your Miss Sierra Leone USA.

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