Getting Connected
Being a volunteer

Know what’s great about being a volunteer? Rachel, Wendy, Judd, Katti, and Kemba discovered that giving to others makes them feel good.

RACHEL: My mother asked me if I wanted to put an application for this program called the Food Project. I thought it was kids working on a farm for like $2 an hour. I was like, “There is no way.” I decided to look at the brochure. It was this incredible program. I thought, “I’d be honored to do this.”

WENDY: A lot of kids are into me, me, me. But they're missing out on helping other people.

JUDD: I think the idea kids have about community services is “Hey, all you’re doing working for free.” The truth is you might be helping people and, at the same time, you’re learning lessons about what others have gone through. That’s one of the many things you get out of it.

RACHEL: Right from the beginning, I felt my confidence rise. I was making a difference, and that’s enough to make you confident. It means so much to me just to make one person smile. It’s something that I want to do for the rest of my life: help others.

KATTI: I like to work with children. Helping a child learn is the best thing. When a kid is happy, and when they're listening to you, it's wonderful. I feel like I'm here for a reason. It makes me feel that everything I do is going to affect something or somebody's life, hopefully in a positive way.

JUDD: One of my community service projects was teaching two kids how to read and write. Seeing them learn different words was an unbelievable feeling. When I would walk in they would say, “Hi Judd,” and they would hug me. It would give me the warmest feeling.

WENDY: I volunteered at an elderly home. I was the only Spanish- speaking person. There was an elderly Cuban lady, and it was really good to be her friend. It was like, a boost of energy. I felt good about myself and grinned the whole day like a Kool-Aid smile on my face. I couldn't get rid of it no matter what happened that day.

KEMBA: I'm a teen missionary. I do a lot of mission trips, and I love it. But you can volunteer a lot of different ways. You could dance or sing or start a basketball team.

WENDY: After seeing the elderly lady, it makes me feel like I'm a part of somebody, a part of something. It's like I was put on this earth to do something and I'm not being selfish about it. You know, I'm sharing.