Sam Godfrey
2/9/10
8 English
Mr. Salsich
Assessment Essay
A Sense of Community
Volunteerism is the heartbeat of our organization. Experience the thrill.(quote from the wall at the New London Community Meal Center) I never really understood the true meaning of community until I started volunteering at the New London Community Meal Center. I was told by a volunteer named Chester that community means, the community of volunteers helping the community of less fortunate.
I chose the New London Community Meal Center for my place of service because of a speech I listened to by a women named Judy Mann. Judy, the head of the meal center, gave a speech at my Sunday school about the meal center. She made me think how there are so many homeless people right in the town of New London. This took me by surprise because I never really thought people were sleeping on the streets just a few miles from my house. Judy’s speech intrigued me to help. I never took immediate action into volunteering at the meal center, but I did not forget it. Some of the stories she told were both fascinating and shocking. I also, wanted to see what the real world looked like. I knew a great way to see the world was to go to the meal center. I wanted to interact with them, maybe hear some of their stories. I wanted to see a homeless person, or help them. I wanted to experience reality.
At the meal center I experienced many problems. One major problem of mine was finding a job were I would interact with people the most. For my first few visits they had me working in places like the dish room, and stock room. I finally had to ask if I could serve, and be in the middle of the action. Also, getting seven visits in was not easy for me. Surprisingly there were a lot of volunteers and they simply did not have room for me to work. That problem must have been the major problem for me, because I would either find my self in the back room cleaning mice dropping or asked to come back another day. My last problem was fitting in a time for me to go to the soup kitchen. With basketball, homework, and other after school activities, it was difficult to arrange a time to go. When I was working, they would have me work two hour time frames; this was not easy to do.
Even though there were many problems it was worth the time and stress.
I think I did many good things while working at the meal center. While serving I made many people happy. I talked and laughed at some of the stories they told. One man was telling me he ran track for Ledyard High School and was about to cross the finish line when he looked back and tripped. He said a Stonington High School runner passed him and won the race. Its stories like these that I looked forward to hearing when I got to the meal center. I also gave help to those in need of a meal and a warm place to stay. By volunteering I helped the meal center; without volunteers there would be no meal center. I think all of the people that eat there are grateful for people volunteering. I think I also changed a little my self after volunteering. I became more aware that there are lots of people less fortunate than I am who are in need of food. I will definitely keep going in the future, bringing a few more of my friends to help.
The meal center mainly deals with people who are addicted to drugs, alcohol, have been laid off, and people who are homeless. I was told by a volunteer that about 90% are truly homeless and 10% come for a free meal. I really wondered how people became homeless. One big factor that causes people to be homeless is alcoholism and abuse of drugs. Lots of people that eat at the meal center are addicted to alcohol. Once addected they spend all their money on drugs instead of rent or other essentials to living. I overheard one man saying, “drinking colt 45 and stayin alive”. Another man came in so drunk he couldn’t even walk. This clearly shows that alcohol has taken over their lives. While reading an article from, walk for homeless. Com, I read that homeless people will drink so they don’t feel the cold, and temporarily forget about their problems. While all of their money is going to alcohol and drugs they may loose their job putting them on the streets. Also, a natural disaster will also put people on the streets. When hurricanes and earthquakes strike homes are destroyed. Lastly, when people live pay check to pay check, they can’t afford to get hurt. Once they are hurt and put out of work they may soon become homeless.
The New London Community Meal Center and the book To Kill a Mocking Bird relate to each other in a few ways. The major connection I see between the two is the people that go the meal center are similar to those in To Kill a Mocking Bird. Bob Ewell is the best connection to the meal center because he has a severe drinking problem. Bob Ewell lives in a small beat up home in a dump. The only way he gets money is through the state, when he gets his money he spends it on liquor to get drunk. This behavior is similar to what the people at the meal center do. The last character that relates to my place of service is Mr. Dolphus Raymond. You will never catch Mr. Dolphus Raymond without a paper bag filled with whiskey. He has that homeless stereo type, just like the homeless at the meal center. Besides Bob Ewell and Mr.Dolphus Raymond, there are many more characters from To Kill a Mocking Bird that relate to the meal center. Atticus relates to the meal center because he treats everybody fairly. When Tom, a black man, asked Atticus to defend him in court, Atticus didn’t even hesitate to accept him. At the meal center they except everybody. It doesn’t matter if they are millionaires or homeless, they cant turn anyone down.
When I was asked the question, what would I do differently, I had a hard time finding any reasons. I definitely would of liked to serve more. I worked in the storage room and dish room many times. When you serve, you interact with people and volunteers which creates conversation. For the first couple of visits I was shy and didn’t talk much. I now regret being shy because I missed out on interesting information. When I did start talking I learned a lot about the meal centers history and some of the people stories. My last regret was, I wish I had brought used winter cloths that could have been given to some of the people who desperately needed them. I have many winter clothes from last year that would have been perfect for some of the people. If I brought in some cloths I would of definitely made some people happy.
This experience has changed me in many ways. I have definitely become more aware of the homeless community. By going to the meal center, I have been inspired to keep helping these people. This experience has definitely opened my eyes to the world. When I look at some of the people who have to go sleep in the cold streets because they didn’t make it through school, it really drives me to keep working hard at my studies. By going to the meal center I have almost been warned to be extra careful in life and not make the same mistakes some of them made. From now on I will choose the right path instead of the dark hard tunnel that will lead me to the streets. “Joy can be read only if people look upon their life as a service and have a definite object in life outside themselves and their personal happiness”.( Leo Tolstoy). When you volunteer at a place like this, you really learn how important a community is. To be part of something besides yourself, for the good of other people, really makes me feel good inside. Before I started my services, I cared too much about what I wanted. Now I think of how I can help others in need.
“The art of happiness is to serve all.”(quote off a teabag) I’m not going to lie. Driving to the meal center was not fun for me at all, until I got there. When I was helping others I some how found it fun and enjoyable. I will defiantly keep going to the meal center in the future. I think the most important thing I realized was how fortunate I am to be able to go sleep in a warm bed and have a roof over my head.
