It seems as if every time someone says the words “Community Service,” a groan immediately follows. Why? Well most people picture picking up trash on the side of the road or sitting at a booth at an event. It can be so much more than that. Community service is one of the most rewarding things we can do: help others in need. What better time to think about those in need than the holidays?
In high school I was part of the National Honor’s Society, and one of the requirements was to spend a certain number of hours at a local nursing home. Initially, I was worried about how I would make this enjoyable, but I didn’t have to worry for long. Volunteering at a nursing home taught me so much about myself, and my misconceptions about people in nursing homes. It’s so interesting to just talk to these people, because they are still people. Yes, you may have to repeat yourself, or tell them your name and what school you go to more than once, or they may not talk at all, but it’s still worth it. I met so many incredible people in that nursing home: painters, veterans, nurses who made vaccines, and so much more. You never know someone’s story until you hear it come from them, and they love telling it.
Another option is to help out at a homeless shelter like St. Joseph’s Diner. I’ve heard so many beautiful stories of people who volunteer there and get to see these people in a whole new light. They are homeless, but they still have dignity and deserved to be treated as nothing less than human. It’s a humbling experience and it can really make you realize all you have to be thankful for. Especially during the holidays, these people need someone to talk to and just sit with them. They don’t have anyone to go to, and most of the time no family to support them. During the holidays, we all crave being around our families. They don’t get to have that. So make the community their family. You can serve food to them, help cut vegetables, or even sit with them while they eat.
You could try volunteering at an animal shelter. Who doesn’t love cute little animals who have nothing but love in their hearts. You may not be able to personally adopt them, but you could make their lives better by helping out the shelter they’re in. You could walk dogs, donate food and supplies, play with the animals, or volunteer at their fundraisers. Or, if it works for you, adopt a loving pet who needs a home. Just because they aren’t a brand new puppy or kitten, doesn’t mean they don’t deserve a home.
If time is a precious, precious thing for you, maybe think about donating something to a foundation or group that helps those in need. You could donate your hair to Locks of Love or Pantene. Donate clothes to Goodwill. Maybe put a few extra dollars in your church’s collection or in the Salvation Army buckets around Christmastime. Or maybe participate in a care package service such as Operation Shoe Box. In some of the poorer countries, children may not get Christmas presents. All you do is fill a shoebox with a few gifts for either a girl or a boy, put a label on it and wrap it. How easy is that? Especially when it means you’re giving a child a Christmas. Or send a care package or letters to a soldier. There are websites such as www.AnySoldier.com that allow you to pick a soldier/group to support. They’ll give you specific needs such as deodorant, sheets, or snacks, and you send a nice little care package their way. They do so much for us, the least we can do is give back to them in any way we can.
There are so many ways to help out your community, and this is the time when most people feel the need to be more involved and give back. Community service doesn’t have to be scary, or hard, or super time consuming. Go with a few friends, make a day out of it. It is nothing but rewarding in the end.
