This past summer, I acquired an internship at Baldwin and Lyons, an insurance company in Indianapolis. Every Wednesday during my internship, a couple of employees and I would participate in a prodigious community service project, Meals on Wheels. Throughout the three months that I worked at Baldwin and Lyons, I got acquainted with some of the individuals whom we delivered to. These inspiring individuals were so grateful and appreciative that we took time out of our day to volunteer to do such a service. One elderly woman who we delivered to would sing to us as she came to the front door “good meals, good meals, good meals.” She is one woman that I will never forget. First going into this, I was elated knowing I was I getting out of the office for a few hours. I did not comprehend the fulfillment I would receive from delivering meals to the elderly and disabled. But I am pleased and proud of the work that I have done for Meals on Wheels. There is no better feeling than doing something for someone else and seeing such gratitude for something so simple. Acts 20:35 says, “In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Peterson). In an effort to revisit and make a difference in my community, I have arranged that over Thanksgiving break, I work Monday through Wednesday delivering for Meals on Wheels of Central Indiana.
The concept of Meals on Wheels originated in Great Britain in 1939, when the Women’s Volunteer Service for Civil Defense served meals to elderly and disabled during the Blitz. The National Council of Jewish Women started Meals on Wheels in Indianapolis. Mrs. Morris L. Jacobs...
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...u have been successful in your lifetime. I think that people get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everything in their own lives that they neglect other people. Donating clothes, shoes, and jackets from your closet that you haven’t worn in a year is enough to make a difference. I think it is extremely important that people set aside time to give back to their community at least once a month because you really do get back more than what you put in.
Works Cited
Meals on Wheels of Central Indiana. "Meals on Wheels of Central Indiana." Meals on Wheels of
Central Indiana. N.p., 2013. Web. 20 Nov. 2013.
Nichols, John. "The Very Fundamentals of Christian Faith." Core 9 Lecture. Shen Auditorium,
Rensselaer. 21 Oct. 2013. Lecture.
Peterson, Eugene H. The Message, Remix: The Bible in Contemporary Language. Colorado
Springs, CO: NavPress Pub. Group, TH1NK, 2006. Print.
Holzman, D. C. (2010, April 1). Food deserts and how to tackle them: a study of one city's approach:
Just a month ago, one of Greer, South Carolina's most devoted community members, Mrs. Alice Bernette, passed away. Mrs. Bernette, or Mimi as her close friends and family called her, was a passionate shcool teacher for 15 years at Crestview Elementary School, a committed volunteer for Meals On Wheels,
Whether it be mentoring, helping the homeless, giving blood, holding a charity event or helping support those in need. No matter what the type of work you do is, it matters as long as it helps the community become a better place. The act of kindness that you perform today can save a life tomorrow. Every person isn’t born with ethical thoughts, or thoughts at all but they learn them as they grow. For example, if you see your parents or someone that you admire do good things such as giving back, and help people who need it or just doing right by the religion that they follow, then there is a split chance, that you will follow in those same exact footsteps and fill them just as well as you were taught. Not saying you have to go out of your way to give money to help someone pay for groceries and do things for the less fortunate, but put yourself in their shoes. What would life be like from the other side? Could you still have everything you have now? Everybody can’t be financially stable all the time and you never know when the tables could turn and you can be in their place. It doesn 't take much time to make a difference in your community or any community rather. Give what you can and be that change you want to see in others. We have to learn to work together, rather than despising one another or not getting along with each other for no reason logical. “Two minds are greater than one”. If we stop working against each other and start
We’ve all heard the phrase “Charity begins at home.” This statement holds very true in my case, not because we needed help but rather because we were taught at an early age to provide help whenever possible. In our current economy there are many people not just in our community but throughout the world and beyond that are struggling. I was fortunate to grow up in a household with two loving parents who shared the importance of fundamental beliefs and values. Cynthia Street, the street I grew up on, was a comfortable middle class neighborhood that served as my first perspective of American life. Through my experiences in my neighborhood and also my interaction with my church family at Central Christian Church in Newark, I learned the importance of outreach work.
...alition for the Homeless. (2011, November 1). National Coalition for the Homeless. Retrieved November 21, 2013, from http://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/hunger.html
I decided to take action and volunteered at GLIDE Memorial Church. At GLIDE, I volunteered during lunch shifts. My duties included ensuring that each bagged meal consisted of the correct items, handing out silverware and condiments, cleaning dishes and the floor, and bagging meals for the homeless. I worked with people of all different ethnicities and ages, and we all cooperated with one another in order to make things run smoothly and
Meals on Wheels follows a food service system which involves: purchasing food ingredients to the production facility, preparing the recipes, making the recipes, storing of chilled and frozen products, and then sending the meals out to be delivered. This means that the planning process is one of the most crucial steps when obtaining materials. The production planning team is responsible for estimating demands, as they are constantly viewing how many clients need what food, during which days (Forster, 2016). The production team is in constant communication with the chefs and dietitians to determine the exact amount of materials coming in (Forster, 2016). Usually, the production team is responsible for orders of 2 sets of
Growing up, I always had a nagging sensation in my heart that urged me to take care of anyone that was sick around me, doing whatever I could to make them feel better. As the years passed, I became more exposed to the world around me. I traveled around town and around the United States. I realized just how many people were far less fortunate than I. This new found knowledge struck a chord in me, being the naive child I was, I could not figure out how I could have so much while others have so little. When I was with my parents and saw a homeless man or woman crouching on a street corner, with worry lines strewn about their face, I would beg to go to the nearest store to bring them food. I continued to help those around me all through my
Growing up in a lower income family, I always assumed that earning more money gave me more power to spread good works of humanity. As I got older and experienced more around my community, I witnessed people around me that helped with things such as hurricane relief programs and canned food drives. This inspired me to find ways for me to impact others in my community. Each year my family donates all leftover food from our local grocery store to people in need all over
It is quite easy to believe that being a Christian only involves attending church every Sunday and celebrating the holy holidays such as Christmas and Easter. However, part of being a Christian is to go out into the community and spread the good news. While the goal is not to convert every person we come across, it is important that we spread God’s word and love. I worship at Faith Presbyterian Church and one of the ways that we embody Christ’s love is by helping feed the homeless population in New Orleans. Every Tuesday, a few members of the congregation meet at church to prepare a bag lunch that consists of a sandwich, fruit, and dessert. On Wednesday, the bag lunches are taken to First Presbyterian Church where homeless people line up to
Instead of a bunch of women taking food to people who lost their homes, volunteers go to elderly people’s homes and deliver food that people prepared in the Meals on wheels kitchen prepared. The incredibly dedicated volunteers drop off the food and they often look around the people’s houses just to make sure everything is in order. Meals on Wheels has definitely evolved over the years, but for the better. Before Meals on Wheels was around there were other ways of helping older people. It all started with the Great Depression, which sparked the age the nursing
I learned about the importance of giving back at the age of 11yr old and putting the very important needs of others in front of my own. Volunteering in a homeless shelter at a young age opened my eyes. Where I was placed to give food, clothes, money & hygiene products to people in need. Where would I be right now without the help of God, my mother, family& friends and the church community”. Giving a helping hand to the people in the community is Something we should always do. In the ("bible Acts 20:35 says in everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the lord Jesus himself said: it is more blessed to give than to receive"). Having a compassionate heart for the community blesses the congregation.
Over the years, I continued to give as much of my time, money, and possessions as I could, all the while studying the bible and writing my thoughts on giving and what that meant as a Christian to be a giver. I also wrote about all the good experiences I had while giving my time. when I was 19 I started a group at my community college that made sack lunches and passed them out to homeless people on the weekends. The first year, we did it just once a month, then we went to every weekend. Eventually, we were all so dedicated , we did it year round, even when there were no classes in session. There were around 30 of us. Every Friday night, we would go to the house of one of our members listen to loud music and make the lunches. They usually consisted of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, fruit, cookies, cheese, a can of
I also had the privilege of helping with the Meals on Wheels non profit organization. My grandfather used to be a Meals on Wheels recipient and he would share with me how he enjoyed looking forward to their company and a hot meal daily. I volunteered because I wanted to give back and help someone else’s loved one in the same way. It was very rewarding delivering hot meals to people who didn’t have the means of getting one as well as being there for them to talk to. Overall, it was a very humbling experience, it made me realize just how blessed I am and how much I take for granted daily.
St. Paul writes in Philippians 2: 3-4, “Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” As I reflect on the community service that I have done this year, I am understanding more about how important this verse is. In life, success and riches can lead one to value oneself above others and become increasingly selfish. However, this is not the road one should take. God makes it clear in his Word that to whom much is given, much is required. Each man is called to utilize the gifts he has been blessed with, to benefit the lives of those around him. Will Smith once said, “If you're not making