Future ESU Student Brings Hope to Streets of Stroudsburg

Walking down Main Street in Stroudsburg, Pa. on a cold winter night, people notice the holiday wreaths hanging on every pole and the trees dressed up in lights to illuminate the street. But for some people this season is not about holiday décor and gifts. Brett Ruben spends this time of year helping the people who need it most.

The 18-year-old East Stroudsburg High School South senior has spent every Monday for over three years volunteering his time at soup kitchens, most recently the East Stroudsburg United Methodist Church soup kitchen, which he says has made the biggest difference in his life.

“I want every single person who walks through the doors of the soup kitchen to know that there will be better days,” he said. “I need them to know they will be OK someday.”

Ruben does not want people to give up hope because at one point that was all he had. Money was scarce while he was growing up and food stamps were all too common in their household. When the family was forced to live in a safe house, dark times continued to haunt their lives. But with his mother’s help, Ruben never gave up hope.

“I knew that there would be a brighter day, and things couldn’t stay bad forever,” he said.

And things didn’t stay bad forever. Just last month on Immediate Decision Day director of admission at East Stroudsburg University, Jeff Jones, brought Ruben to tears when he offered him a full ride at ESU.

“Brett was very open and outgoing and shared some personal things with me that touched me deeply,” Jones said. “I felt that here is a young man, given the opportunity, would bring such a positive spirit to ESU and leave a lasting impression on those that he meets.”

For Ruben, Jones is the reason he decided to come to ESU. He claims he’s never seen anyone as genuine and kind as the director.

Set to start at ESU in Fall 2015, the high school senior already has future plans to get involved at the university. “I want to have an impact on the student body at ESU and implement more community service projects,” he said. “I want to be part of a school known for its tremendous presence in the community.” Ruben will continue to volunteer at the soup kitchen while he is enrolled at ESU.

Inspired by his high school teacher David Scott to pursue physics as a major, Ruben hopes to be a successful engineer one day. Wherever he ends up in the future, Ruben plans to spend his entire life making things a little better for those who could use a little bit of hope.

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