Community Service

Brian's Community Service Reflections

The team decided to do three projects that would benefit our community and meet the requirements set forth by our professor. We decided to put together a drive for supplies for The Hope House, volunteer to feed the needy at The Fredericksburg Baptist Church, and contribute to a family in need by supplying the resources to purchase all the necessary food to prepare a grand Thanksgiving feast.

My drive for the Hope House started with me requesting needed supplies for them through various forms of social media and by posting a donation site at work. It was a great feeling to get people involved and the excitement of supplying and spearheading donations that people so desperately need is very fulfilling. Having people reach out to me with needed supplies and coordinating where and when to meet so that I could pick up the items was challenging but also exciting, because I knew I was making a difference in someone’s life that I have never met before. Good deeds can pay enormous dividends that we all can share together.

The time spent at Fredericksburg Baptist Church was very rewarding. We volunteered on three different occasions, two dinner servings and Thanksgiving Day for a breakfast service. My personal favorite was Thanksgiving morning. The aura that was inside that room that morning was something from a dream, when I think of how I want my America to be, it was on display that morning. People of all different diversities coming together for the betterment of humanity, there was no animosity, no hatred, no hurtful barbs being thrown.  Peace and harmony. What a glorious day it was. I will never forget the euphoria that I felt that morning. It set the tone for a memorable Thanksgiving Day. Having the opportunity to share a smile, say a simple hello, or indulge in a lengthy conversation was a great way to institute change in a divided world. We have the opportunity as leaders to make changes in society and it can start with understanding and love for mankind. We are all the same, we are all human, and we all have the ability to institute change.

I truly appreciate the opportunity that we had to serve our community. I feel that the lessons learned by this time shared as a team, as a community, and as a leader is priceless when I reflect back to my time of volunteerism. I know emotionally that I am filled with great joy and a feeling of accomplishment and betterment in humanity. I will continue to be a volunteer. It has completely changed my outlook on every aspect of human interaction, behavior, and leadership.

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I thank you Dr. Kim for giving me this opportunity to grow as a leader.  Unbeknownst to me, when this class started I had no idea this would impact me as much as it has. It has changed  my world for the better.

Cheryl's Community Service Reflection

For one piece of our Community Service Project, we collected supplies from our community for the Hope House.  We spent our time gathering the materials and dropping them off.  We did not get to meet the recipients of the materials.  However, we did meet with many people who were very thankful to be helping others.  We posted message on social media advertising we were each collecting materials for the Hope House.  From this announcement, we received replies from many friends who we offered to meet and collect the donations from.  While this was a simple service project, it required we spent time arranging to meet other people, it allowed us to interact with different friends and explain our effort and the class objectives. From this effort, at least two other people were inspired to help out a charity.

            The Hope House effort was nice, but it did not have a lasting impact.  We requested support and people replied with assistance.   At home, explaining the class requirement was justification enough to be able to sneak out of a few chores at home and visit a few friends. Finding time to deter from the daily routines, and fit the visits in to collect the materials was the most challenging task involved. 

            We also gave our time and efforts at the Fredericksburg Baptist Church.  During the weeks we supported this activity we met and interacted with the people we were there to help.  This service time was very rewarding especially on Thanksgiving Morning when the ones we were helping thanked us for our time and sacrifice away from our families. This was very emotional.

            Having never volunteered at a Soup Kitchen before, I really was not sure what to expect. I was uncomfortable at first.  I did not want to offend anyone; I was not sure if I should talk or just work.  I realize this sounds horrible, but I was completely new to this environment.  

I was thankful our entire group was able to attend the dinner serving each week.  We grew closer as a group and some of the faces having dinner became familiar.  I wondered what they background stories were.  I hoped a few were stopping in for a free meal to remove the burden and expense of cooking at their own homes.  I worried some of the people were sleeping outside later.  This was heart wrenching.

Faranda knew some of the people attending the dinner’s background and had commented she had not seen a few faces in a while.    I found comfort in her knowledge and experience.  Following Faranda’s lead, I became more comfortable. 

The first week we attended, there seemed to be a lot of volunteers; however the organization leadership put everyone to work.  With my group, we were tasked to pick up dirty dishes and clean tables.  Other volunteers served food.   The process was very organized and with all of the helpers the work was light.

            I learned this church prepares and serves meals to those less fortunate every Thursday evening and there is a different church serving at least one hot meal each day.  Some of the volunteers commented a few years ago, Fredericksburg was the place to be because the area homeless are very well feed.

The church also provides music during dinner and pastoral care, if requested.   The same soloist provided the music each week, he also played guitar and knew a variety of easy listening songs. Towards the end of the weeks he began singing Christmas music.  Sometimes other people would sing-along, too. 
One particular week, the Pastor invited the homeless to sign Thanksgiving Cards for a loved one and he provided them with a stamp to send a quick note home.  A lot of the visitors were writing cards.   I hope they all had loved ones to tell they were having a nice dinner. 

Thank you for this opportunity, Dr. Gower.

 

Faranda's Community Service Reflections

Mahatma Gandhi said “Be the change you wish to see in the world”, and change does not come without people becoming involved in their community and in the lives of their fellow person.  Growing up, being active in the community was something both my parents impressed upon my brother and I; and it was not an option. They would always say “ you live here, and where you live is a reflection of you, and you have responsibility to make the community better in any and every way possible.”  

Their parents who were very active in their communities, as well, also influenced both of my parents.  My paternal grandmother actually started the “School Dressing Days” program, proudly; this still takes place in Fredericksburg at the beginning of every school year.  This event provides school-aged children with clothing, shoes, hygiene products, and back to school items, which they otherwise may not have had the resources to acquire.  My grandmother was also on the board of the Fredericksburg Food Bank and helped raise money. She was also active with the Local Chapter of the American Cancer Society.  My maternal grandfather was a minister and President of Lion’s Club Chapter.  All of my memories of him are spending time helping someone else or raising funds to help our neighbors.

            The strong role models I was raised by created a lasting impression on me about the importance of being active in the community.  As a result, I volunteer regularly in the community for different events.  Annually, I volunteer to be a course Marshall for the Moss 5k, a foot race to support the Free Clinic.  During the holiday season I support Toys for Tots.  During inclement weather, I often help my elderly neighbor’s by shoveling their snow.

For me, when I volunteer I do not view it as a task or sacrifice.  It is just offering some help to someone, as I would want others to do for me if I was in the same situation.   My efforts are not always in a formal or organized manner either.  Given my role models, I was also taught to take care of others. Sometimes this means that I may buy someone a meal, offer to make a phone call, help change a flat tire or help push a car out of the road.  It has been instilled in me to be active in my community.  For me this comes as naturally as breathing, just being involved and being of assistance to anyone in need regardless of necessity or ability, to me is being a good human.