Making a Difference from Across the World by Jena

Making a Difference from Across the World by Jena - August 2021 Scholarship Essay

When I was in grade school, there were many opportunities for me to make a difference in my community. One time in particular was when I volunteered for "Food for the Poor". This was right after Haiti suffered from the devastating earthquake in 2010. I helped collect canned goods for the families in Haiti. I recruited some of my friends and we went around our community and to many of the people we knew and asked if they were able to donate. After this, I helped package bags of rice and other dry food items. I tried to do as much as I was able to at 9-years-old. I was also able to help package the food into boxes for them to be shipped out as soon as possible. I was there every step of the way.

Volunteering for “Food for the Poor” impacted me because I did not realize how badly the earthquake effected so many people. At the time, I never thought about a natural disaster causing so much damage in any part of the world. I was young at the time, but it helped me build some understanding and empathy towards those who are less fortunate than others. I put more thought into my daily life with how I was fortunate enough to have all of the things I wanted and needed. This also helped me to find my love for volunteering in my community. Being able to help others in need at such a young age was a real eye-opener.