Giving Back to the Community by Rene

Giving Back to the Community by Rene - May 2018 Scholarship Essay

Volunteering gives you a chance to change somebody’s life, including your own. Many people get satisfaction from knowing that they are making a difference in the lives of those around them and helping others who may not be able to help themselves. Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community, and there is a lot that can be learned at the same time.

Throughout the year, there are a lot of families who can hardly afford to keep dinner on the table for themselves and their children. This can be extremely stressful and cause a lot of trouble for these struggling adults. During the holidays, this already stressful situation can become worse. Each year at Christmas, Feed A Family gets together to make meals, package them and deliver them to the people who have asked for their help. Feed A Family is a non-profit, fully volunteer group. The company I work for, Century 21 The Harrelson Group, is a big sponsor and participant every year.

Working with others to get meals prepared can be hard. There is a strict time limit, as food needs to be delivered by Christmas Eve. We will all work 4-8 hours each day leading up to Christmas Eve to get everything prepared. On Christmas Eve, all of the hard work becomes worth it. Delivering meals to struggling families and the homeless is a great experience. When they open their door or see you coming towards them, you can instantly see the gratitude and joy that they are feeling. Many of them will cry out of happiness. It’s a very rewarding experience to know that we are providing them with a full meal that they may not have had otherwise.

With each passing year and each time I volunteer with Feed A Family, I learn something new. Many will jump to conclusions and assume that people are homeless or struggling because they have an addiction to drugs or alcohol, or that they are just not trying. While some people do struggle with addiction and some don’t have jobs, that is not the case with a majority of the people we help. They are working parents, they are young adults paying for college, they were laid off. There are many reasons that they may have lost their homes or battling to pay their bills. Many of them are trying to provide for themselves and their children, making sure that their child has everything they need before taking care of themselves.

I have learned that life is not easy. There are times when you will get ahead and there are times when you will fall behind. With many jobs being seasonal in the Myrtle Beach area, many people can make more money during the tourist season than they do during the fall and winter. While times are better and work is busier for these people, they might not have any trouble paying their rent or buying groceries. However, during the off season when business slows down, they might get fired or lose a lot of hours at their job. Being without income or losing a lot of income causes a trying time.

Feed A Family has taught me to help people without expecting anything in return. People need help, and they are elated when somebody is willing to help them. Seeing joy on their faces and knowing that they will not have to go hungry that day is enough of a reward. It is extremely satisfying to help others and give back to my community. The knowledge that volunteering provides is life changing and encourages me to do more to help those around me.