More than a meal

On a winter evening in Mount Pleasant, more than 20 students from the Business Residential College stepped into the kitchen at the Isabella County Restoration House with a simple plan: serve dinner. But what makes the BRC’s annual Restoration House Dinner stand out is not just the meal itself. It is what happens after the plates are passed. Students do not simply serve and leave. They sit down, share dessert, listen and engage. In the process, they experience one of the most meaningful events of the year.

From cleaning to connection

The BRC’s partnership with the Isabella County Restoration House began four years ago with a practical need. Each October, students deep-clean the shelter’s day center and warming space to prepare for winter. As they learned more about the organization and the people it serves, students began to look for ways to deepen their involvement.

That interest led to the creation of the annual dinner service, which has quickly grown. This year marked the second time students hosted the event, and participation more than doubled.

“We recognized that the need was greater,” said Lori, BRC director. “And our students stepped up.”

Students organized food preparation, managed serving lines and handled cleanup, running the evening with the efficiency of a well-coordinated team. But the most impactful part of the event came when the serving trays were set aside and students joined residents at the tables.

The power of sharing a table

For Emma Cummins, BRC philanthropy coordinator, the difference between serving a meal and sharing one is significant.

“When serving a meal, it can just feel like a task — ‘Here’s your food, next person,’” she said. “But sitting down and sharing the meal humbles you. You’re on the same level.”

What began as a structured service activity quickly shifted into something more personal. Conversations replaced transactions. Students asked about life stories, and residents shared experiences, advice and perspective.

“One of our members asked, ‘What is your story?’” Emma said. “It was such a powerful learning moment.”

In one conversation, Emma found herself exchanging music recommendations with a resident, laughing and talking as the interaction unfolded naturally.

“It really just felt like talking to a friend,” she said.

For many students, it was their first time engaging directly with individuals experiencing homelessness. The experience challenged assumptions and broadened their understanding in ways that are difficult to replicate in a classroom setting.

“They realized that the people they were sitting with are just human — and have a lot to offer,” Lori said.

Leadership in action

While the conversations were meaningful, the execution of the event also reflected the BRC’s leadership focus. With more than 20 volunteers, students divided into teams to keep the evening running smoothly. Some managed the food line in an assembly-style system, while others rotated through cleanup or spent time one-on-one with residents.

“It was like one big machine,” Emma said. “Everyone worked together.”

The coordination required communication, adaptability and shared responsibility—the same skills business students practice in the classroom. Unlike a case study, however, the impact was immediate and personal, reinforcing the value of those skills in real-world settings.

“These experiences might just be a couple of hours on a random Tuesday night,” Lori said. “But they plant seeds. They shape how students think about volunteerism and about the community they’re living in.”

Strengthening community on both sides

The event’s impact extends beyond the residents it serves. It also strengthens the BRC cohort itself. After dinner, students gathered for dessert and reflection, sharing their thoughts in a relaxed environment filled with conversation, laughter and insight.

“It definitely builds cohort bonding,” Emma said. “It’s a different environment, and that makes it different from our other events.”

For business students, Mount Pleasant can sometimes feel like a temporary stop. The Restoration House Dinner challenges that mindset by encouraging students to see themselves as active members of the community during their time here.

“This is our home for the next few years,” Emma said. “It’s important to build that connection.”

The BRC reinforces that perspective through required service hours and a variety of projects throughout the year. Still, the dinner stands out because it blends service with shared experience, creating a deeper sense of connection.

A tradition that continues to grow

As the Business Residential College prepares for its move to Herrig Hall, Lori anticipates even greater participation in community-focused events.

“When students feel more connected to one another, they’re more likely to go serve together,” she said.

What began as a seasonal cleaning project has evolved into an annual tradition rooted in empathy, leadership and action. For BRC students, the Isabella County Restoration House Dinner is more than a volunteer shift. It is a reminder that leadership is not only about strategy or performance metrics.

Sometimes, it begins with something much simpler: pulling up a chair, asking a question and listening to someone’s story. And that lesson lasts far longer than a single meal.