Jeremiah's Volunteer Project

I fell that I contributed to the organization in an impactful way. Not only did I add another helping hand to the organization I brought new energy and encouragement to the team already working there, because of how much time I put in into the organization. I helped out a lot in the first room as well by already having known the sorting orientation so I didn’t have to go through it again ad could get right to work. I also could help with the manual palate jacks and helped create boxes for the new palates needed to hold food that was being sorted. I also was helpful in the fact that while the head volunteer leader was doing other things I could help people with their sorting questions, because I probably had the same questions they did when I first started out, so now I’m able to be an extra voice for the volunteer leader, so he doesn’t have to answer as many question and do as much hectic/stressful (at times) work.

My supervisor would personally say that I did good work coming in all these hours and helping out and she would encourage me to come back and volunteer some more, ,because the work I’m doing impacts not only the community but the organization too, because I offer free labor at the least.

My peers would probably look on at astonishment if I told them how many hours I worked for free. Besides that though they would be surprised for one that I volunteered and learned all of these new things while at school, while they couldn’t have been the wiser. I think my peers would applaud all the good work I did in the organization and I hope that it would encourage them to volunteer as well. It’s interesting really how every little extra thing you do in life, or in the case the warehouse, helps out someone else in a way that you couldn’t predict. For example when its times to clean up and someone has a broom and is sweeping the floor after we volunteer and then I grab a broom and help out or start on the tables I feel as though it encourages them to keep working hard, because it lets them know that they aren’t alone in the endeavor of being the first to respond when help is needed, without being asked, and going beyond what is expected of you.

When it comes to this project when before is started actually volunteering it left a bad taste in my mouth. I couldn’t believe that we actually had to volunteer so long and make a website for a 1 hour credit class on top of occasional readings and class meetings, it shocked me. Plus I didn’t know how to feel about giving away 40 hours of my life to a company that I wasn’t even sure what I was going to be doing, but when I actually started it all became clear. We being business majors are projected to live a comfortable lifestyle, with this comfortability we will have money and I think one thing this experience is teaching us is to never forget to give back. We can be so caught up sometimes in our on live like; going to school, work, sports, social life, that we forget to help out our fellow man, and with our time and resources we should always give back to the community. I do know however like the project, still not with how many hours, but I am happy that I had this experience. Without this experience I wouldn’t have meet great people, given back to the community, or grasp a deeper understanding of how a no profit food bank works, who knows I could’ve wanted to be a CEO of a nonprofit food bank and this experience gave me an “internship” to see the entry level work first hand.  

Before starting this project I had thought that volunteering for Second Harvest that I actually wouldn’t get a chance to see the people it impacted or actually sort nonfood products. I was obviously wrong, because Second harvest has an array of products, from book bags and coal, to ibuprofen and fresh vegetables, it’s amazing really. Also while during the experience I was able to meet people first hand who actually came in to the food banks here their story and learn from their life.  

I learned a lot from this experience about myself. To start off with I learned that I actually like volunteering. I like the way I feel knowing that I’ve helped someone out. I also learned that I shouldn’t take certain things for granted and that everything is a blessing and to not miss out on helping someone in need.