Hairnet and latex gloves intact, Dave Schneider washed the trays that were handed to him though the small window in the St. Francis House kitchen.
To the shelter, he was just another helping hand. Only his fellow party members knew he would be on the Student Government ballot running for Student Body President in two weeks.
Schneider was one of 15 members of the Progress Party who worked at the shelter Monday morning handing out meals to Gainesville’s homeless.
The third-year political science and history major said the Progress Party has a high emphasis on service. However, he said many students forget that UF is part of the greater Gainesville area and that they need to be involved outside of UF as well.
“SG is supposed to be this voice,” he said. “You can’t separate it from the Gainesville community.”
He said he and the Progress Party want to bring service back to SG.
“Even though we’re not in power now,” he said,“we can make a difference.”
Michael Morales, the Progress Party campaign manager, said his party wants to get students involved to make that change.
“Activism goes beyond protests and holding signs,” he said.
He said the Progress Party is attending as many student organization meetings as possible to see how they can make a difference in the Gainesville community.
A lot of the organizations are hesitant or think they can’t talk with SG, he said. He and the Progress Party want to change that.
“It’s not what SG is used to,” Morales said. “But we can try.”
