My community, Bethel, Vermont, has its share of people experiencing food insecurity. Growing up, many of my friends relied on school as their only meal. When Christmas came around, they never got any presents. With so many people struggling around me, I knew I had to make a difference. I started volunteering at the Bethel Foodshelf’s Project “Happy Holidays” in 2021. Starting in November, we would assemble and deliver Thanksgiving and Christmas meals. During that time, we would collect presents and put up donation boxes around the surrounding area. In December, we held an event where families could come in and pick out toys, decorations, and even a Christmas tree. It was so much fun being able to help these people pick out toys for their kids. I often knew the families, so I could find toys I knew their kids would like. When school was back in session, I heard kids on the bus talking about their Christmas presents, and the light in their eyes made me so happy. Ever since then, I have been volunteering for Project Happy Holidays. After volunteering over the holidays, I realized many of my peers struggled, especially in high school. I noticed that when snacks were available, my friends would take them home for their siblings (often not having any for themselves). A teacher of mine mentioned starting a food pantry at the school, and I was all for it. I became the student manager, advertising, stocking, and inventorying the pantry. I ensured my peers knew that the food pantry was available to them any time of the day, and it wasn’t limited to people who “needed” it. If someone was hungry, they could get food. This removed some stigma, and the food pantry became a hit. It will be offered this summer and the next school year. Seeing and experiencing food insecurity in my community has made me aware of how important access to healthy food is. I will continue to provide families with food wherever I am. Although food security is a big part of the service I provide to people, I am now also going into nursing. I want to work in women's health so that I can give back to other women that may not have provided the proper care they need. I was going to go into school for nutrition, but instead I am going to use a nutrition background to provide the patients I care for with everything they need. Whether that be food/nutrition assistance, physical care, or just someone to talk to.

I have learned to be a compassionate person, and I use that to make the world a better place. I learned to be compassionate when I was shown kindness by someone even though I was quiet and shut down. This person understood who I was, and I was able to open up and become a kinder person. I now follow in the footsteps of that person, making sure I go out of my way to make sure other people feel safe, happy, and understood. As I learned to be compassionate by being shown kindness and understanding, I hope that others learn as well, ultimately making the world a little bit kinder, one person at a time. In its simplest form, compassion is understanding people for who they are. When people feel misunderstood, they often become shut down or even violent. They don’t feel comfortable enough to be who they are or talk about their feelings. When they are given compassion, they tend to be kinder to themselves and others. In extreme examples, compassion can end a war. When people feel understood, they don’t have to fight for themselves and what they believe in. One large way I show compassion is through my volunteer work at a food-shelf and a horse farm. My volunteer work at the local food shelf is during the holiday season. I make decorations, deliver meals, and offer presents to those who may not have the time or finances to be able to. Over the past few years I have made a difference in so many childrens Christmas mornings just by volunteering a few of my weekends in November and December. Not only do I volunteer during the holiday season, but I also volunteer year-round at a horse farm. I do chores for the owners, but I also help facillitate camps and lessons to younger children. The farm I volunteer at is a non-profit, and though people can pay to do lessons and camps, they also have a needs-based financial program to allow any kids to come to the farm. For some kids connecting with the horses is the highlight of their day, and I am so grateful to be a part of it. Though it is hard work spending 3 hours 3 times a week at the farm, spreading the joy of connecting with animals and learning about them makes all of it worth it. Showing compassion in big organizations is important, but showing it everday is what really makes a difference in people's lives. Thought I volunteer with organizations, I try to spread my kindness every single day regardless of where I am. This might mean buying my friend her favorite coffee, offering a kid in my english class help with his essay, or just picking garbage up in public places. I don't care who I'm helping, because I don't need to be benefited by helping someone. I want to see the world become a better place, and I truly believe that by helping someone out with their job or suprising them with a kind gesture will make them a kinder person, too. By spreading my kindness to other people, I hope to inspire them to do the same.