"I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver." -- Maya Angelou This year, I had the opportunity to give back to the community in many ways. I volunteered at Helping Hands, Meals on Wheels, and the county Science Museum. These volunteering experiences further opened my eyes to the needs of my community and the many opportunities to serve by volunteering. Helping Hands has helped my family in the past. Several years ago my family was struggling with income and Helping Hands was generous enough to help us pay our electric bill. I chose to volunteer at Helping Hands because I wanted to give back to the program. At the time, it seemed like there was little value in sorting piles of toys but then the manager shared with me that many children would be very happy to receive these toys for Christmas. This one comment helped me to put it all into perspective. Volunteering isn’t about me; it is about playing an active in the community. Bringing joy to families who are suffering, giving hope to the hopeless. I also had the privilege of helping with the Meals on Wheels non profit organization. My grandfather used to be a Meals on Wheels recipient and he would share with me how he enjoyed looking forward to their company and a hot meal daily. I volunteered because I wanted to give back and help someone else’s loved one in the same way. It was very rewarding delivering hot meals to people who didn’t have the means of getting one as well as being there for them to talk to. Overall, it was a very humbling experience, it made me realize just how blessed I am and how much I take for granted daily. At the Science Museum I helped take inventory as well as help prepare for community services such as the Science Nights and Boy Scout and Girl Scout camp-ins. When I was young, I personally had the opportunity to participate in one of the Girl Scout camp-ins they hosted. I remember how the volunteers worked hard cooking our breakfast and helping with the activities. It was very rewarding to be on the giving end instead of the receiving end. The Science Nights, which are free to the public, are a good outreach to the young students in the community. These nights are a way of making education fun and exciting for the children.
Being in a school that brought students from various counties and cities with different backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives, opened my eyes to seeing just how diverse humanity is. In a time when everyone is struggling with personal problems, I know how monumental a simple volunteer act can be. One of my favorite acts of service is tutoring. I tutored an elementary-aged girl for two years in Fort Lee and I will always remember those two years as the most fulfilling. Education is so precious, and children are the most open to it. Not only was I able to teach her math and reading comprehension skills, but how to carry herself as a smart and extraordinarily capable young lady. In return, she taught me patience and how sometimes you just need to approach a problem differently to see the
With the help of the Me To We team at Queen Street Public School, I volunteered at a local food bank. The experience was quite educational and fascinating. We encouraged staff and students to donate non-perishable food items for the "We Scare Hunger" campaign. This was definitely a highlight of my grade five year because I felt very humble and warm-hearted by doing a simple act of kindness. In addition, I was chosen to participate in the "Intergenerational" program. This was created so that grade five students can learn more from the elders of the Burton Manor senior home. We had the privilege to learn about their history and interact with them through several educational and fun activities. If accepted, I will indeed join several clubs and teams to contribute my time and talents to make the school an exciting learning
Since I was in the first grade, I have been a part of the Girl Scouts, which has caused me to make a positive difference in my community. Participating in Girl Scouts has enabled me to engage in many fundraisers and charity events. While I was a part of scouting every year around Christmas time my troop and I would set up an event feeding the homeless at a local church. Serving and talking to different men and women caused me to reflect on my life and made me realize that I should be more grateful for what I have. My life is not as hard as others, and it is nice to give back to those who deserve
Once in a while helping those in need can be very beneficial. People are not the only ones that need to survive. Plants need to survive because without them we would not be able to breath. At school I had to think of a place to do some charity work. Since everyone was going to do theirs based off of people, I along with two of my friends decided to work at a place called Shade Tree. Shade Tree is an organization which helps our environment and helps keep the environment clean and well organized. Shade Tree helped me learn a lot and it was a very great hands on experience.
I love volunteering for Rock the Block. It has really opened my eyes to the needs of my community. Rock the Block happens three times a year. Easter, Back to School, and Christmas. Easter we give out groceries and turkeys or hams, that has been donated. We have face painting,
Ever since I read Tulane’s motto, "Non sibi, sed suis," translated as "not for one 's self, but for one 's own.", I knew right away that Tulane was the place for me as this motto encapsulates the very principle upon which I have long-since resolved to live my life. From my first fundraiser at the age of seven, during which I raised $1,000 through grassroots fundraising, to being an active part in helping put an end to food insecurity in my own community, to co-founding my nonprofit, Kindling Hope, community service has always been a very important part of my life.
Being involved in many community organizations, I have assisted people from all walks of life.. For example, one week I volunteered at a senior bingo night at a retirement home facility, and the next week, I wrote letters to our troops. The National Honor Society has also given me the opportunity to give back to my own school. Last year, our organization did a gardening project in my school's courtyard revitalizing the landscape
Even though I’m struggling to find time to volunteer because of work and other obligations, I still love to volunteer. There are times when I never see the effect my work has done. I like those moments the most, since they have the most
The site I volunteered at was Cradles to Crayons in Boston, MA. This group provides children up to age 12 that are living in low income and homeless situations, with essential items they may not be able obtain otherwise. This includes clothes, shoes, school supplies, toys, books, and more. This helps these children at home, in school, and at play. Their overall mission since being founded in 2002 is to give children in need the most important basics of life. Their approach revolves around the idea of people helping other people. Better off communities are paired up with poor communities and those who have spare items donate them, and they are given to those in need.
Another service that I have done has been to volunteer at the West Campus Hospital gift shop. It was a great experience for me; if I had the time I would make the effort to volunteer again. For people that is good at socializing with others and love organizing I would recommend volunteering at the gift shop.
I really enjoyed volunteering at a soup kitchen offering a bit of my time to serve those that are at a down point of their live. However, it is unlikely I will continue the service after I met the 12-hour requirement. The location is simply too far away, and the gas is just not worth it, however, I would seek other volunteer organizations in the future in my area.
Volunteering enables a person to develop new skills that he or she would otherwise not have been able to develop. Unlike most other organizations, a charitable organization is happy to give positions to passionate, though inexperienced, individuals who desire to help others and benefit the community. Therefore, an individual with little experience in a field of work can gain meaningful skills that he or she can use in the future. For example, while I volunteered at the hospital this summer, I learned about the daily work lives and professional duties of doctors and nurses. Had I not volunteered, I would not have learned about these things. I was always interested in the medical field, but volunteering at the hospital let me explore my interests and en...
People’s lives are changed every day by their actions and experiences. This past summer, I participated in a community service project, an experience that opened my eyes in many ways. I was a volunteer at the County Memorial Hospital. In my time as a volunteer at the hospital, I was able to meet patients and staff members from all over the world and learn about their life experiences. Listening to all of their stories has made me truly appreciate everything which I have.
A reflection of my volunteering experience can be summarized in two words: Life-changing. It is hard to explain the feelings that occur when you involve yourself in selfless acts for your community, such as volunteering. There is a feeling in your heart that you cannot ignore, maybe it is the happiness you feel or the overflow of emotions in helping others. In other words, it is a feeling in which you want to share with others. Maybe with a friend, maybe a classmate, maybe a family member, or maybe even a stranger. Either way, spreading how life-changing volunteering can be is a great start to making a positive change in your community by simply by involving others.
I volunteered at East Parkside Nursing Home through my church 's mentoring program. At first, I was somewhat uncomfortable volunteering at a nursing home because my great-grandfather, among many others, was mistreated in a nursing home. But, as the day went on and we engaged in activities with the residents, I eventually calmed down and got into the smooth of things. We had one-on-one contact with the seniors, and we learned about their lives and families. One of the seniors was a veteran who fought in the Vietnam War and he told all of the volunteers a few short war stories. For several residents, their families rarely visited them, so they genuinely appreciated the volunteers spending time with them. Later, we made holiday cards and sang Christmas carols for the senior citizens. They seemed so elated and pleased, which made me feel so fulfilled that I could make someone 's day by doing something so