The George Blumenthal professor of political economy and a professor of international and public affairs at Columbia University, Sharyn O’Halloran teaches various undergraduate, graduate, and professional courses. In addition to teaching, Sharyn O’Halloran serves on the Board of Directors of Community Impact at Columbia University.
Committed to helping individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, Community Impact maintains several programs with the assistance of students, faculty, and staff at Columbia University. Four of the organization’s programs, which are discussed below, focus on emergency services:
– Community Lunch. Located at the Broadway Presbyterian Church, Community Lunch provides home-cooked meals for up to 100 individuals with low-income backgrounds. Food is served family-style, and volunteers often organize holiday parties and fundraising events.
– Project for the Homeless. Responsible for maintaining two homeless shelters, Project for the Homeless consists of students from Barnard College and Columbia University. Student volunteers work as nightly supervisors at the shelters and ensure that they stay open for 120 nights.
– SHOUT. Dedicated to providing families and individuals without a home with fresh food and dry goods, SHOUT volunteers and coordinators run a weekly food pantry at Ford Hall. Open on Mondays and Thursdays, the pantry provides clients with warm clothes.
– Habitat for Humanity. Volunteers with the organization’s Habitat for Humanity branch work once or twice a month to renovate and construct affordable housing. The program has previously helped restore homes damaged by Hurricane Sandy and is currently exploring youth initiatives.