I believe that it is important to “pay it forward,” and by doing this you must be able to benefit someone other than yourself. Volunteering has always been a passion of mine; however, there are three specific instances where I believe that I have played an important leading role. Perhaps the most influential volunteer work I have done was during Super Storm Sandy. I live on Staten Island, and with that said, we as a community were affected tremendously. Unlike many other individuals, I, fortunately, did not suffer extensive amounts of damage; although, those who lived near the water lost their homes, some were severely injured, and others lost family members and pets. Seeing the pain circulating around Staten Island at the time made me think, “How can I help those devastated by something so horrific?” My aunt and I decided to travel to the areas of Staten Island that were affected most, like the North Shore. We brought clothes, food, water, and other basic necessities and walked miles with a cart handing out the supplies to everyone who was in need. The damage was horrific, there was debris in the streets, phone lines were strewn, and families outside were trying to salvage whatever hope they had left.

As my aunt and I walked through the streets, you could see to what extent the toll of the storm had taken on families. That's when I decided that I needed to do more. My aunt and I went to housing stations that were set up around Staten Island. We offered comfort, support, and supplies to families who had been pushed out by the storm, and then we set up a fundraiser with the help of my aunt’s friends. At the fundraiser, we donated toys, clothes, electronics, and food to families who had lost everything. All of the volunteers were dressed as elves since Christmas was approaching, and we did our best to fill each child with joy and hope. Some of the children were extremely young and had lost everything, yet they still smiled and kept their heads held high.

I believe my involvement made a difference because I was giving the families a chance to refrain from thinking about such tragedy even with a little conversation. I enjoyed seeing the glimmer of hope that crossed an individual's face when I asked if they needed help. Some asked me to sit and would then talk about everything they had lost, and some would tell me about their pasts to escape the present. My involvement was important not only to me but to all of these people that were affected by the storm. I believe that I was making a difference, even if it was a small one. I was letting those who were affected know that people still care. Not only did I make a difference in all of the lives that I had come in contact with, but they also had made a difference in mine. I realized how fortunate I am and that it is always important to “pay it forward.”