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.