Going to church was a huge part of my childhood, which I am thankful for because it has shaped me what I am today. As I continue to grow, I have learned to understand how much having a strong relationship with God is truly powerful. Through singing in the choir, dancing in praise dance, and worshipping with my church family. Volunteering can be a symbiotic relationship for you and for the community. Helping people in need, connecting with other people, learning a new skill, providing social support for others, and strengthening relationships . Even the smallest of tasks can make a huge impact on everyone’s lives. From plants to animals and towards humans, alike. It can provide a sense of purpose, a new direction or a meaning by helping others. Volunteering can assist in exploring new interests and passions, and that can carry over into your personal, or professional, life.
When COVID-19 happened, there was an urgency on how people would get groceries in a safe manner. My church created a food drive for anybody that needed groceries for the week. Giving out food was every Saturday morning, however, every Friday evening, we organized the food products on tables, so it was easier for us to collect, and then put into wagons to carry out to people in their cars. They didn’t get out, nor did any lifting. One person talked to them, to avoid spreading, and then we, as volunteers, would pack the groceries into their trunks. We did all the hard work, so they didn’t have to worry about anything. One memorable thing we did when I was there, the week before Thanksgiving, we gave out whole turkeys to people; most of the groceries that week were food related things that would be in a Thanksgiving meal. Since it was during COVID-19, we couldn’t truly interact with the people in the cars, but it was nice to be with my church family and to connect with other volunteers. It helped me get out more.
Another experience I had with my church was in the summer of 2019 and I became a camp counselor for my church summer camp. It was only for a week watching kids from the ages of 5 to 8 years olds. The camp provided a space for them to do different activities such as going to the pool, we hiked to a waterfall, and spent overnight in a cabin, etc.