An AACC Spanish professor took her students to a homeless shelter to serve food in November.

Professor Jodie Hogan brought four of her classes to The Light House Homeless Prevention Support Center, a shelter in Annapolis, on Nov. 29.

The shelter supports homeless people in the community and families in need. According to its website, the shelter aims to be “a national model for how a community cares for its neighbors experiencing homelessness.”

Hogan said she brings her students to The Light House every semester.

This time, students served tacos to shelter visitors. According to Hogan, the purpose of this project was to offer relief for the regular chef at the shelter, who was absent that evening.

“I like to give students the opportunity to serve because many times students want to help in the community but don’t have the resources to do that on their own,” Hogan said. “It’s just voluntary service learning.”

Nerrie Navarro, a third-year transfer studies student in one of Hogan’s classes, said that was the case for her. “I know nothing of volunteer work, but I’ve always wanted to get into it,” she said.

Hogan said she believes this opportunity will encourage students to volunteer at the shelter again or to donate time to another organization in the future.

Justin “Oz” Osborne, a second-year psychology student, brought a case of water to the shelter, but said he enjoyed serving food the most.

Hogan also works with the Center of Help in Annapolis, a partner with AACC. She said the center offers resources to immigrants.

She said she pairs the immigrants with Spanish-speaking students, which is a learning opportunity for the students.

The center is “equipping people with the tools they need to get on their feet,” Hogan said. “In this case, they’re not homeless, but they are in a need of the service.”

Hogan said her personal reason for giving back is “because I come from a background that was by no means affluent and people helped us. So for that reason, I feel like now … it’s my responsibility to give back and to help others when I can.”