Three Dinners at Veteran Village

(from one of my more amazing online students AMH2020) 

The secret mission that I chose was to go to the Veteran's Village located in Tallahassee and feed the veterans. The reason I chose this mission, at first, was because it was offered by the professor and cooking for forty people is not too daunting of a task. My reason morphed with each time I went and now these people feel more like friends than I ever thought possible. It turned out, that my life would be forever changed after this assignment. Prior to this assignment, I did not even know the Veteran's Village existed. This housing arena was made to create an opportunity for veterans to get back on their feet. So for the first time, I entered this community room of this establishment. As a class, we were serving breakfast for dinner. I came armed with cheese grits and regular grits to go along with a spread that included pancakes, quiche, sausage, bacon and other delectable breakfast treats. The first encounter I had was with a man, about my age, who made me immediately feel welcome. I didn't know anybody there, as I am an online student, so I was slightly nervous about being in this unfamiliar ground. This man broke me out of my shell and made it easy for me to start interacting with others. As the veterans started entering the community room, myself and other students began serving them our homemade breakfast treats. I assisted them with scooping portions of the foods they desired to eat, and I even make made to order omelets for some. There was such a sense of belonging while I was there. Because of the way that I felt, when I left that night, I signed up to feed them the next week.

The next week was a barbeque theme with pulled pork, pulled chicken and typical side dishes. There was also to be a macaroni and cheese competition. I make macaroni and cheese that is always getting rave reviews by the people that eat it. So I decided to make a crock pot full of this delectable cheese and noodle dish. After two and half pounds of cheese, and some other ingredients, it was ready for the veterans. I brought it to the Veteran's Village and served it with pride. It was gone in about 25 minutes. The difference between this night and the previous time was that the veterans were very open to talk to me because they had seen me before. This put an instant smile on my face. I enjoyed talking to them about anything they wanted to talk about. Sometimes they asked about me and sometimes they shared information about their dreams and aspirations. When I went home that night, I talked to my roommate and friends about my experience. They were all very supportive and thought it was a great idea. They also wanted to partake in an event. So I signed up, yet again, to go back.

This time I was the leader. It was right before Independence Day. I picked this particular day because it was so close to a holiday that had great meaning to those men and women who fought in war. I wanted to make sure they got the chance to celebrate the meaning of this day. I gathered some friends and we put together a cookout. There were hamburgers and hotdogs, being made right outside, plus chips, salad, dessert and drinks. By this point the veterans felt more like friends than anything else. I felt quite comfortable just walking into the community room and setting things up. With the help of my friends, and some new friends (classmates) I was able to serve each person hamburgers and/or hotdogs. I got to look each one of them in the eye as I asked them what they would like to eat. I also was able to converse freely with people, that just a few weeks prior, were strangers. One of my friends, that came along, was in the military along with her mother. Her mother suffers from PTSD and has trouble dealing with emotions that have been present for so many years. We were talking, when there was a lull in the action, about what this meal means to these people.

The one thing that stands out to me most from this experience, is a comment that has been made by several different veterans. The mention that they always know they will get to eat on Thursdays. This meant so much to me, from the very first time that I heard it. I have a very demanding career as a nurse and I feel like I earn the money that I have, but giving up $50 (or an outfit) so somebody else can eat is more rewarding than I ever thought possible. Have I always been the kind of person to try to help somebody else if I can, absolutely. But there is something different about it when it starts out with a person who you have no connection with. This bond that keeps growing with each time that I walk through those doors. These people recognize me and look excited to see me. I honestly don't think their excitement is about the food that is being provided, but the opportunity to interact with others. Interacting may not be an easy thing for them because of PTSD but many of them are putting themselves out there and trying.

There is not one thing that I learned from this experience, there are many. It has meant so much more to me than a grade could ever mean. These men and women are what kept this country going and there is no way to ever actually repay them. 1They have taught me so much about myself. I had struggles growing up, not with food or money but with family. I was physically abused from a young age until I was in my twenties but never felt sorry for myself because I had a bed to sleep in and got to do things that I enjoyed. I started working at a young age in order to help my grandparents because they had stepped in to be parents for my brother and I. Unfortunately, I was the only female they had ever raised, except my mentally retarded aunt. I didn't know how to be girly like so many of the other girls my age and my grandparents often judged how I looked. Sometimes I have anxiety about new people and what they will think of me because I didn't fit in. Being a nurse, I talk to people all the time, but these people see me as a nurse so they almost immediately trust me. When I am a regular person this isn't a given. These men and women made me feel welcome and like I can achieve anything if I put enough effort into it. I also learned that people, right in my backyard, are struggling to eat more than once a week and I am sometimes eating past the point of being full. There will never come a day when I stop talking about this experience. It has made me more aware of the things that aren't being broadcasted for all to see.

What I would like to pass on is a message that says to look around. There are people struggling and bad things happening all around us. There is no big sign on the door that broadcasts it. Whether it be little or big, make an imprint on somebody's life so that they can see the change in themselves that I saw in myself.

Bringing smiles to the faces of homeless or less fortunate individuals in the Jefferson County community

(from an online AMH 2020 student)

My mission assignment was to feed any individual that was unable to eat a hot, home cooked meal at least twice per month.

I have always been interested in cooking and preparing meals so I felt like that would be an area that I could specialize in without any disappointments. I pondered for several days wondering what I could do to enhance my community. I begin by going to different businesses asking for donations of various food items that could be used in this awesome mission. I was elated about the overwhelming response I received from my community helpers such as Winn-Dixie, Piggly Wiggly, Dollar General, Family Dollar and various churches and civic organizations to name a few. The school donated by allowing me to set up my prepared meals in the vacant cafeteria once school was out of session. Several of the cafeteria staff was willing to volunteer their time also which would be greatly appreciated.

So I began spreading the great news about my mission on May 16, 2015 throughout my community. I was undecided about a venue that could accommodate numerous individuals for this phenomenal task and with the assistance of my family and friends assisting me with a little rearranging, the only thing I needed to do then was decide on a time that would be most productive for the mission. After collaborating with my partners, the ultimate decision was Saturdays @ 3:00 p.m. I was so excited that I could hardly sleep the nights prior to the first meal.

The next thing I need to do was review my checklist ensuring that I had all the paper products and supplies along with the food to carry out my dream task. Off to Sam’s I went smiling as I ventured down every aisle making my selections that would make my meal perfect and praying that everyone that received a meal would be grateful and be thoroughly filled.

So, I begin preparing various items that would allow my cooking schedule to be as smooth as possible to ensure the best meal ever. A great chef always makes sure that they have sufficient time because that is the key to success! I took my time and baked the best cupcake recipe I had along with an array of other desserts that I thought would display variety just in case one of my visitors disagreed with one choice or another. The aroma of fresh baked goods illuminated the neighborhood, this bought excitement to hearts of all that volunteered and donated to this wonderful cause.

Once everything started coming together, I was able to finalize the first meal date which was June 19, 2015. With only a few days left to prepare, we all immediately went into overdrive making sure that everything would go off as planned. The days leading up we hit the ground running every day concluding the final touches, step by step everything slowly began to fall in place.

The week of first meal we work effortlessly arranging the tables, washing lemonade and tea canisters and wrapping plastic ware that would be used for eating. Everyone felt a discreet sense of accomplishment because our big day was just around the corner! Then we decided to announce the first menu that would be served, it included the following baked chicken, yellow rice, green beans with potatoes, rolls, drinks(sweetened and unsweetened tea) and desserts(cupcakes and cookies). We were well on our way to bringing smiles to the faces of homeless or less fortunate individuals in the Jefferson County community.

We arrived at the venue on Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m. with designated duties to ensure that all of the meal would be ready and prompt. By 2:15 p.m. we were awaiting our guests with the largest smile our face could muster. Shortly after the moment we had been planning for had finally arrived.

The line began to form one by one and two by two they were all welcomed in with a cold glass of lemonade or tea and a menu so that they could decide what they wanted to enjoy and yes the majority wanted everything that was offered. As the serving line began operating the thank you grew numerously, tears ran down their cheeks as they received their plates. They were also grateful for the opportunity to sit down in an air conditioned room and eat with pure enjoyment.

After second servings and fixing several to go plates our total headcount were about 65 individuals. We felt great knowing that we had provided at least one meal to well deserving, unfortunate neighbors. Within a few hours we received several messages in regards to the next dinner and we gladly responded with July 10, 2015. There was also enough food left that our families that had contributed so much time and energy also enjoyed a meal as we began our cleaning up process. There were several more missions carried out after this one. The July 10th mission served 75 individuals and the July 17th mission served 80.

I will continue spearheading more community mission of this nature to show our community that we do care about them. I was also able to explain to my kids about the importance of giving back to your community and supporting those whom at some point and time supported you. They began throwing out random ideas that we used to construct our next mission, we were truly grateful for this opportunity and made promises that it will continue.

If our nation as a whole would take time out to see observe the things that we take for granted daily and share our wealth with others we can curtail issues such as hunger, sickness and disease within our communities. We will also incorporate health fairs with local community partners such as SWAT, Dental Mobile, Women and Child Nutrition, Pastors, Counselors and various others that can inform individuals about the free services that are available within the county.

There is still a lot of work to be done in Jefferson County but I do believe we are well on our way to accomplishing a great portion of this task. Thanks again Mrs Solandi for your motivated to enhance my community.

Comfort Zones Can be Expanded to Include Others...

(from an online student AMH 2020)

This summer I chose to help out Dr. Soldani at the Tallahassee Veterans’ Village for their weekly potluck dinner. I love cooking and even though half of my stove is broken, making a giant casserole for a bunch of servicemen and women was definitely on my list of things to do. I’ve been volunteering over the summer at a few places of my own interests (the Spring House and the Knott House Museum) but this was a different experience because I wasn’t just giving my time, I was also giving some of the most basic necessities of life – food and human connection.

Ms Josephine saw me driving slowly around the loop at the village, looking a little lost (but determined!) and flagged me down. She led me to the community room, where I started the potluck with cauliflower and potato casserole. We set up plates, forks, and napkins, and awaited the steady arrival of other volunteers. I thought I would meet some of my classmates from my online course, but instead I met many of Dr. Soldani’s friends from here and there, all pitching in their dishes – from croissant-wrapped chicken to green bean casserole to potatoes au gratin. They chatted away, happy to be helping out a good cause. Ms Josephine explained that while some of the veterans would come in and socialize, some might wait til the hustle and bustle died down to come grab a plate. I completely understand this feeling – we even found out that one of the veterans had the flu!

As our dinner guests trickled in, you could tell just how thankful they were to have a great meal ready to grab and go. Dr. Soldani mentioned that that side of town is more or less a food desert for decent grocery stores, and with many vets lacking personal transportation, getting from there to the supermarket was no easy task. During my studies in AMH2020 one really learns about the link between the automobile, independence, and the American dream, and how integrated those three notions are in our society. Seeing those who have served our country go without those seemingly normal access points to transportation or shopping centers drives a wedge between the ideal America and reality.

After the initial wave of dinner guests, I sat with an older gentleman and talked about the theatre, Shakespeare, and a book he was reading. He said he does some acting around town and was miffed he hadn’t made it into Rock of Ages. He also really recommended I read the book he was working on, The Tragedy of Arthur, about a lost Shakespearean play being produced by a modern cast with a man named Arthur and his sister. He wished me a good night when I departed. Sometimes I have a hard time talking with strangers but I know that this dinner isn’t just about the food, it’s also about the community and the care that these veterans need to know still exists for them. I felt that sense of community with the ladies who brought meals, with those vets passing through the line thanking us and laughing with us, and even in the interaction that I may not have been comfortable in but that needed to happen. Getting out of one’s comfort zone is probably the most important takeaway one could get from this experience.

Many students get caught up in the rigmarole of classes and part-time jobs and parties and maybe a little bit of sleep thrown in, but as an older, returning student, I have learned that there are even more experiences out there to be had beyond the academic world or the young adult world or anything that we are told is normal for our age. What needs to become normal is a sense of compassion for ourselves and others, to take the time to do these acts of kindness, to put some energy into recreating our family’s favorite recipe for strangers who may not be able to give anything tangible back to us, but that have already given parts of themselves in the past, before we may even have been on this earth. Comfort zones can be extended to include others. They don’t need to burst or become misshapen with new experiences.

We should step out of our comfort zone and bring a smile to other people....

(from online student AMH 2020)

This summer I have been greatly inspired by the acts of kindness that I have been privileged to witness through our classes “missions”. 

 

Not only did it feel good to know that I did something that could positively affect a stranger’s life but it made me happy to see so many other students posting about their missions and their random acts of kindness. It was a great reminder about the fact that when you do something nice for someone else, not only does it help them, but it can also brighten your day a little as well. 

 

For my mission I chose to create a box of goodies to send to Alex and hopefully show him some love. I was deeply moved by his story and it greatly saddened me to hear about the misfortune that came his way. It makes me horrified to think that some people out there can take money from others and feel no remorse. When choosing what to send to Alex I tried to imagine myself in his shoes. I thought about how it must feel to be in his situation and what sorts of things brighten my day the most when I am in need of some cheering up. The number one thing on my mental list was having someone to talk with but since I cannot go see Alex in person I chose the next best thing I could come up with which is snacks of course! As I shopped for things to send in his gift box I thought about how my own sweet mother has sent me gift boxes from time to time since I moved out a year ago to go to college. Nothing cheers me up more than when I find a box of goodies packed just for me because I know that someone cares enough about me to go out of their way to brighten my day. As I thought about this my only hope was that somehow I pass that same good feeling on to someone else. Unfortunately I do not personally know Alex or his tastes in junk food, however, I do like to think I have pretty good tastes so I just thought the best idea when deciding what exactly to get him would be to choose what I would want someone to send to me. I went through the aisles and picked out all my favorite candies, chips, granola bars, crackers, Gatorade and so on. It made me happy to think that even if I can’t be there to hang out with him I can still in a way share with him part of me and what I like and hope that if nothing else he knows that someone out there is thinking of him. 

 

Through this experience I have remember a valuable lesson about how it doesn’t take much to do something nice for someone. You don’t need to spend tons of money or tons of time to make a difference in someone’s life. This is probably one of the most important lessons to learn in life in my opinion. This class reminded me that I am extremely blessed and I should make a point to go out of my way to help others who are less fortunate on a regular basis. It is so easy in our culture to get caught up seeing social media and television and everyone who has it better than you can fall into a slump of self pity. One of the most important things we can do is daily remind ourselves that there are people all over the globe who have it worse off in life. In recognizing this simple truth we should all be motivated to step out of our comfort zone and bring a smile to someone else’s face instead of constantly trying to make ourselves happy.

Giving Back could really change your life.

 (from online AMH 2020 student)

Giving Back could really change your life.

As the semester came to an end and I thought more and more of how I'm going to complete this act of kindness. I realized that the funds really wasn’t there to feed a group of forty or mailing of a box of goodies. I thought it really shouldn’t be this hard to do a good deed. I realized that I started to think a good deed had to be seen by many or had to be unravelling in a way where someone would thank me for such a great generosity. 

 

But as time wined down I realized that giving directions to this lady and her son's who was looking for FSU library for two hours is a good dead or giving this guy a place to wash his clothes for this job interview the next day is a great deed. so it doesn’t have to be something full of recognition. 

 

I love to help people but at times I think who am I to help when I need help myself, who am I to try and lend a hand when my eggs aren't never in the same basket. I realized no help is too grate or too small to change someone's day. I'm in the process of moving and I've collected over the years quite a few stuff that has gotten too small for me or that I've never worn in a while and I was originally going to give them to Plato's Closet. 

 

But as I was walking to Publix one day I saw a young man who had some really worn down shoes and I couldn’t help but notice that not only do I owned a pair just like that, but he didn’t seem or look to be in the best of state. And it came to me I should collect all these things that am not using and give to someone else who it would be a great blessing to. I immediately turn around and head back home for the shoes to give the young man but by then he was already gone. I knew then for sure that it would be a better idea to give my things of much worth to a shelter. 

 

Nothing was gain in the worth of money but much pleasure of helping others was earned. I washed all my jeans shirt comforters hats and folded them up and packed them in a bin, along with some cosmetic things and took them to the shelter on Pensacola street. I was hoping when I go there I would see the young man I ran into that day but not only did I not see him the shelter was clothes. So I made plans to come back the next day. My friend gave me some baby toys and clothes that she had just clean up and was going to put in storage, but when I told her my good deed I was trying to do she gave me her baby things she no longer needed and told me to take them to the shelter with my stuff. I was there the next morning bright and early and it truly touched my heart to see these people truly being tend to and taken care of those that where helping new how to. 

 

As I was walking out and getting ready to leave I saw the same young man with the shoes walking up the road. I flagged him down and gave him the shoes that I hoped would make his day. It was because of him I thought to do such great dead. 

 

His face lit up and I just knew that this was a great idea I knew that it didn’t matter and how these people got the things they needed once there was someone to lend a helping hand and give up a little of something for someone else was all it took. 

 

2I truly did learn that it doesn’t take much to help someone else. I walked in to this thing thinking that I had to have money to help, even if it wasn't a lot I thought that it had to be done in the form of money. that’s kind of how I always took it. but I've learned that it don’t take much to help someone else. and you don’t have to be known to help out someone in need. people in our country are having a hard time just living life with the simple stuff because times are getting so hard. it truly did me some good not only to help out many with the stuff I gave to the shelter but that young man with the shoes really did bless me.

 I think its a great thing when people help out in the community. because the community is not built on just one man alone. we all have to pitch in and help each other to make this world a better place.

You never know how even the smallest act can positively affect someone else's life

 (from an online AMH 2020 student)

For my service project that I had to complete for my AMH2020 class this summer semester I chose to serve a meal at Veterans Village.

I chose this project because veterans of the United States military hold a special place in my heart. My grandfather is a 35 year Veteran of the Florida National Guard, and growing up hearing his stories about his friends and some of my ancestors who fought and were either maimed or killed in wars such as Vietnam, Korea, and World War II has given me great pride to be a citizen of the United States, the greatest country in the world. As I have read and studied the history of this nation I have gained an even deeper appreciation of what our military and the men and women who serve and have served in it do for our country. The only reason we enjoy the luxuries and freedoms that we have in our world today is solely because of the sacrifices these brave men and women who have represented our nation magnificently since 1776. After hearing that I could complete my service project by helping feed veterans I decided that this was definitely the route I wanted to take. I immediately enlisted the help of my grandmother, because my culinary skills are at best sub-par. My grandmother suggested that we make a desert, and I decided on her home made family recipe banana pudding. She agreed to help me prepare it and off I went to feed the veterans.

At Veterans Village I encountered many nice and friendly people, some of whom were my class mates who I had not previously had the opportunity to meet due to the class being web based. I shook hands with and greeted many of the veterans in attendance at the dinner. All of these veterans personally thanked my classmates and I for taking the time to prepare the food for them. I have never encountered such grateful individuals, over a simple plate of food. It was saddening to see such brave men who had represented our country dutifully to be in such difficult places in life. It felt good to be able to give something back to these men and women. As I was leaving I thanked another veteran in attendance for his service and he stopped me and said that by helping provide this meal I had showed my gratitude. His words really stuck with me about how appreciative all these people were for a simple meal. My advice to someone who is thinking of doing a service project similar to this is that you never know how even the smallest act can positively affect someone else's life.

Helping an Elderly man who was feeling scared and alone.

(from an online AMH 2020 student) (PS - tell Amy she's awesome!)

At the start of this class when we were presented with out secret mission I had so many great ideas in mind. I had so many things I wished to do and I felt it was going to be impossible to narrow it down. After a lot of contemplation my decision became very clear when I met and got close to someone who is now very special to me. 

 

At the start of my summer, my older brother had introduced me to his new girlfriend. To be honest I didn’t particularly care for her at first. Although I should know better than to judge a book by it’s cover considering I have had to overcome that exact thing my entire life. After my mother and I took a vacation with the two of them, I had a newfound love and respect for my brother’s girlfriend Amy. We really connected after that. 

 

As the weeks went on Amy and I got a lot closer. She is a nurse at a hospital that is about an hour from where I live. The hospital is in a very poor and rural country town. My favorite thing to talk with her about became stories from her work. Amy is very much like myself in that she likes to find humor in every day life and also that she connects with people easily. She always had either a really funny story to tell me, or one that really pulled at my heartstrings. At this specific hospital many of the patients struggle a lot. Because of its rural location, many of the people that visit are people with no health insurance, elderly, people with psychological illnesses, and elderly men who are veterans.

One story she told me that really affected me was about an older man (lets call him Bob), who was very ill. Bob was a war veteran and he was so ill he did not have much time to live. Amy would tell me how mean he was to everyone, even herself, but she got along with him really well because he said she reminded him of his family.

 

 She explained that he was just very scared of death and had nobody in his family that would talk to him about it. He never got any visitors, except my sweet Amy.

Amy also talked about this very special couple that were currently at the hospital. The wife was very ill and had been in the hospital for months. Her husband has stayed by her side for the entire time she has been in the hospital. He only ever leaves the room to get coffee and that is the furthest he goes. His family brings him clothes and he sleeps in a recliner every night. The love this couple shares is so strong.

I could go on and on telling stories Amy has shared with me about her work. I was really shocked to hear about all of these people’s struggles with poverty despite them not being that far from where I live. Another reason why I connected with this is because I am very close with my grandparents and I never want them to feel lonely or forgotten. All of the stories Amy shared with me about all of the elderly who came in feeling this way really bothered me. 

 

She even shared with me that some elderly people try and get admitted just to get some care and attention. I have been ill and in the hospital many times and I know how special it is to know someone cares. Another thing I have learned in life is it’s the little things that really matter, and that’s what sparked my inspiration for my secret mission.

I started by writing a card for Bob. (The elderly man who was feeling very scared and alone) I really felt bad for him. I wrote a long letter on a sympathy card and bought a big box of chocolates and sent Amy off to work with them to deliver to Bob. I then started to think of all the others in the hospital who could use some kind words. Me, being the way that I am, could not stop there. 

 

The next day I went to the drugstore and bought 10 99-cent get well cards. I wrote individual notes on each card. I wrote things such as, “I hope this brightens your day”, and “Just wanted to let you know that I care about you and am sorry for what you are going through”. I love inspirational quotes so I made sure to fill the cards with those. I sealed each card and sent Amy on her way to deliver them personally to all of the patients whose stories she had shared with me.

I know how uplifting it can be to know someone cares or to have a little pick me up on a bad week. Even though these people don’t know me I know that it will bring a smile to their face. I know this is a very small thing but it’s hard for me to explain on paper how different this area is from where I live. I was really moved by the sad stories Amy came home with every week.

Hearing about all of these people has certainly made me grateful for my health and even more so for my family. I am very blessed to have the support I have. Most of the people Amy would tell me about had no support or love of a family as I do. I really respect all of those Amy works with, it takes some loving people to motivate and support these patients daily and I really respect Amy for that.

Lastly, I learned not to judge someone prematurely. I came to a conclusion before I got to know Amy and now she is very close to me. She brought theses stories in to my life and helped me to realize what my secret mission would be. This experience, because of Amy, has made me a better person. I will for sure keep helping those in the hospital and I hope to come up with more things I can do for the people who are there.

It made me want to become a better person all the time.

(from a summer online AMH2020 student)

My mission that I chose to do was to feed the homeless, but during my act of kindness I experienced something even more beautiful that will stick with me till the day I die.

I know on certain days at McDonalds they serve food for very cheap, like hamburgers and cheeseburgers for $0.50 I believe, so I decided to go there and buy as many as I could with $20 and go out and pass them around to anybody I saw that looked like they were homeless or looked like they were even hungry at that. People were being so grateful when I would give them some food because they felt like nobody cared about them. One guy even almost teared up because he said nobodies talked to him in weeks and that the cheeseburger I gave him was the first hot food he’s had in a while. As this was all going on I was dealing with many different emotions. Giving these people this food really made me sad because these are human beings and I think that just because they are homeless it does not mean we should abandon them like an old rundown car. At one point I was a little mad at myself due to the fact that I have always been so selfish and never gave these people the time of day and would just walk by them. I felt as if I was ever in that predicament that I would just be so sad that people would walk by me. Overall, I was mostly happy because of the reactions I was getting from not only the people I was giving the food too, but to people driving by me. Seeing them so happy to eat this food was ultimately a great feeling. I passed out over 20 burgers in an hour and it just opened up my eyes to how many homeless people there really are in Tallahassee. I don’t see why somebody couldn’t just grab some extra change they have lying around and go do the same thing.

While I was passing out the last of the cheeseburgers, I saw something that caught my eye. As I was driving over by the stadium I noticed from what I saw was a person that seemed to be blind trying to cross the road. It honestly got me so frustrated that as I drove by people were walking right by this guy as if he was perfectly okay to just cross the road. So I had my friend pull over on the side of the road and put his hazards on so that I could get out and help him. I walked up behind him and put my hand on his shoulder and said “I gotcha buddy”. I just saw a smile on his face after I said that. As I was crossing the road with him I saw multiple people staring at me. Two girls were covering their mouths as if they had never seen somebody do that before. Then one guy in a truck gave me a thumbs up as he was smiling. Once I got him across the road he told me that nobody has ever offered to help him across the road since he has lived in Tallahassee. My heart sunk when he said that. It made me question how people could not have ever helped this guy across the road, when you can obviously tell he can’t see if he uses a pole to feel around. I asked him if he needed anymore help and he responded with “you’ve done more than enough for me”. I would have helped him around all day, but he insisted that he would be okay. As I walked back to the car everyone that was still at the light was just staring at me with the same look, a look as if they had never seen somebody do something like that. I was hoping that those people who saw me would do an act of kindness from this and maybe even help him cross the road if they ever saw him again. This is a moment I will never forget because for the first time in my life I felt like I was a good person. Just knowing that I gave all those people food so that they weren’t hungry that night and that helping him across the road put a smile on his face ultimately made me smile.

This whole experience is one that I am honestly glad that I got to do. It definitely opened up my eyes to how one small little thing could change a person’s day. They could be having the worst day of their life and knowing that a small little cheeseburger or a simple walk across the street could change their mood. It shaped me into becoming a better person along the way I think. Instead of just walking by somebody that is sitting on the street struggling, ask them if they need help. If you have some extra change lying around or if you have a little extra food don’t be afraid to go ahead and feed the homeless. What I also gained from this was just because everyone else isn’t doing something, don’t be afraid to branch out and be different. When I see someone struggling with something no matter what it is, I will try and help them. For example, at Publix the other day I witnessed an old lady struggling with her groceries while people just walked by. Of course, I set my stuff down and went over to help her. Before all this I might have just not acknowledged her, but after seeing the joy that some people get out of being helped and the joy I get from helping from helping people is the best feeling in the world. I use to think that I was not that good of person from some of my actions, but after we had to do the secret mission my views have kind of changed about myself. I feel like it made me want to become a better person after this whole experience.

Angels for Allison

(from a summer AMH 2020 online student)

As my volunteer work I helped out at Angels for Allison, a local nonprofit in my neighborhood.

I chose to give my time here because I have frequently volunteered in the past and the foundation is deeply tied to my community. My close friends, their mothers, and many of my neighbors all come together to work at the paint shop where they create and sell the angels for charity. The profit from these angels goes to families who have lost a young child. The money helps pay for the funerals of the child, and other costs that come along with a loved one’s passing. This mission was all created in memory of Allison Haramis, a young teenager of only 15 years old who passed away from a car wreck. Almost a year after her death in 2009, Angels for Allison began. It first started out by one of my closest friend’s moms painting angels and then deciding they were in memory of Allison. As this spread, she, Allison’s mother, and three other moms in the neighborhood got together in the winter of 2010 to create the nonprofit.

The group started out next to a local restaurant and since then has moved twice, ending up at St. Mark’s Episcopal Day School just down the road. Over the last few years it has become the go to place for community service hours and majority of my friends and old classmates still go up to help out. This made picking a place to volunteer easy, and I was with friends and neighbors while doing it. While I was up at the small house that they use for the store, the ladies put me to work doing cleaning and heavy lifting. When I was younger they had me paint the angels and help in the store, now they had me vacuuming and working in the storage shed. It hadn’t been cleared out in over a year and hundreds of angels and paints were sitting untouched in the back. I emptied out the boxes and changed the dead bulbs. After that I took inventory on all of the merchandise and finished by putting everything back into the shed and organizing it. By the end of that, the store was closing for the day but some work still needed to be done, so I agreed to come in again later that week. When I returned a few days later I fixed some electric wiring in the back rooms and did some more work with inventory. This day however, I was working inside and got to talk with the ladies about the work that they do. They have a long process of finding families in need to help, how much they can aid them, and what the store can do to make more profit. I also helped type in the names of all the companies and families who have donated to Angels for Allison in the last 5 years.

From just those few days of work, I learned more than I would have expected. I had always been so accustomed to the organization being there, that I had never really thought about all the work that is put into it. It amazed me that a small group of mothers I knew could put together a foundation that has helped almost 150 families in North Florida in just the past few years. I realized that this charity has brought my small community so much closer together than it may appear, when everyone who walked through the doors while I was working was a familiar face. Also half the names on the list of donators were family friends and local companies that anyone in Jacksonville would know of. This surprised me, because I had no idea how many people in the area had reached out to support a nonprofit that all started in memory of young girl, and could help so many other families in need around Florida.

The Purpose of Life is not to be Happy it is to be Useful.... (Emerson)

(from an online student summer 2015 omg I have great students!!!)

Random Act of Kindness

Many people underestimate the minor things in life that can actually make a difference to another person. One kind word, one gesture, one simple display of love from one individual to another could mean so much than we could ever imagine. There are endless ways to pass along kindness, from just wishing someone a good day to volunteering around the community. By dedicating a few hours each week to brighten up the community park or volunteering to help construct a home, you can bring great joy to some child’s life and warmth to a family living on the streets. I wish to share with you an instance when a random act of kindness made a difference in a little boy’s life and changed me as well.

Like most typical, egotistical college students, I have lived most of my growing up years with the belief that the world revolves around me and my desires. However, my worldview changed when I started volunteering this summer. What was initially a prerequisite for a class I was taking became something I am now passionate about and plan to continue doing it for the rest of my life. Initially, I was not sure how best to dedicate my time to helping others; I had too many alternatives. So, went I online and did some research, and what I discovered knocked the wind out of me. Apparently, hunger is a growing issue in America today with millions of working class families facing poverty and job losses. Federal safety net programs, such as emergency cash assistance and food stamps programs have been overstretched and are actually serving far fewer people compared to those who are eligible or in need. These families suffer immense stress, and numerous households are regularly compelled to choose between having a meal and paying for utilities. They either reduce food rations or entirely skip one or two meals a day. This is concerning especially when little children are involved and cannot fend for themselves. If children don’t get enough food or only eat “filler” foods, they become vulnerable to sickness more often, suffer from psychological distress and cognitive delays, dismal performance in school and may even develop diabetes. In fact, many consequences of malnutrition in children are irreversible.

I learned of an organization called Food for Thought in my area that provides food to children whose parents cannot afford to give them three balanced meals in a day. Even though disadvantaged children in public schools get government assistance and are fed breakfast and lunch, these meals are only available during school days. When school is out during weekends and holiday breaks, such children find it hard to feed themselves. Food for Thought aims to mitigate this burden by providing some of these children with a backpack filled with food every Friday to sustain them during the weekend. I volunteered for weekend duties a few weekends this summer, packing food in backpacks, picking up donations, and helping out in organizing community events.

One day during the summer, while on a delivery errand, I passed a young boy pushing his bike on the side of the road, but I did not think twice about the situation as I was in a hurry and was already late with the delivery. On my way back, I saw the kid again. He was seated on a log by the roadside, his bike on the grass right next to him. He looked really tired. I was concerned and pulled to the side to have a talk with him. He told me he was on his way to a summer meal site five miles away when his bike broke down. He had hoped to get a free healthy meal at the site. Unfortunately, he could not continue with the trip and had to return home. He was really haggard, hungry, and sad even, but he tried his best to hide this from me. We talked a little longer. I learned he was 12 years old; lived with his mom and three brothers; his mom was currently unemployed but used to work two jobs just to make ends meet; his father left when he was just a baby and on most days he barely has enough to eat.

I felt bad for not stopping when I first saw him. I was also angry because many people had passed by in their cars without even noticing the young boy and his bike. I phoned my mom and asked if I could bring a friend over for a late lunch, she said it was okay. After lunch, my uncle Bert came over to have a look at the bike. He is quite a handyman and repaired the bike within no time. I drove him back to his place. For a boy his age, he was really grateful in a composed kind of way, but I could tell that what I had done had an impact on him. Later that week I had a talk with the manager at Food for Thought and recounted the boys situation. She agreed that the situation was sad, and something had to be done. Unfortunately, It was the organization’s policy not to drop food off at the beneficiary’s home. I offered to do the delivery on my own if the organization would donate the food. She agreed to this and for two months I drove to his home every three days with enough food to sustain the whole family between my visits. I did this for two months till the mom got a good job and could afford to take care of him and his brothers.

In conclusion, by volunteering at Food for Thought, I was able to step out of my world and experience life from other people’s perspective. Furthermore, the experience with the boy made me gain a clear understanding of life and its dynamics because I got to appreciate what I have vis-à-vis what others needed. Volunteering motivates people to consider others and become compassionate. Once you see how your contribution has made an impact in other people’s lives, this tends to contribute to one’s personal growth in terms of self-confidence, self-fulfillment, and self-esteem which definitely enhanced by the volunteering experiences. Honestly, I don’t intend to stop volunteering any time soon. 1Ralf Waldo Emerson once stated that the purpose of life is not to be happy. 2It is to be useful, to be compassionate, and to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well. I will continue working with various organizations that seek to make this world a better place for everyone. The little time I give can hardly be compared to what I have gained from the volunteering experience.

No One Has Ever Become Poor by Giving

(online student AMH2020 summer 2015)

Day after day, we see lives through our own eyes but these visions are solely limited to the outside of what we are able to see. No one person has the right to judge or be judged but we judge those who are less fortunate day in and day out. 

 

To understand ones misfortune, we would have to be in their shoes to know exactly what they are going through. Those of us who have achieved fortune in our lives may have unknowingly condescended on those who headed down a path that they could not control. When you think of someone who is poor, you may think that they completely gave up on life and decided that they just weren’t going to try anymore. That is not always the case. 1Anne Frank once said, “No one has ever become poor by giving”. When I read this particular line time and time again, it reminds me that giving is not just handing someone less fortunate money and saying, “Way to go me, I helped them out”, but rather allowing yourself to ask questions without getting judgmental. Allowing yourself to ask questions that help you understand. Becoming someone who gives another courage just by smiling at them as saying, “have a beautiful day”. This assignment actually touched me in a way I never thought would happen.

Growing up as a little girl, I received all of my older sisters’ hand-me-downs and it never felt good but I was appreciative because my mother worked three jobs with 4 kids just to make ends meet. We barely had food in the fridge and some days we went without because my mother was a proud mother. Sometimes the only food we ate that day were the breakfast and lunch in school. Electricity cut off many times, car problems almost every week and it was clear my mother was worn out and extremely tired. There was only so much we as children could do. After a while I began to learn that throwing subtle hints to my grandparents was the only way we would ever get the things we needed. As we began to grow up, I was able to start making my own living. I struggled but the struggle wasn’t enough to break me pass the point of no return. Working in a hospital, as I do now, has opened my eyes to those less fortunate because they do what they can to seek shelter and a warm meal. The one thing that makes me feel for them the most is that the little things really do mean a lot to them. They really do appreciate the one night stay with the breakfast lunch and dinner included in the deal.

I chose to send a care package to Alex because it reminded me of when my grandfather would send me packages every month while I was struggling living away from home. I created a strong bond with my grandparents because I am a very loving person and I enjoy speaking to them on a daily basis. My grandmother and grandfather would ask me all the time, “Do you need anything? I ordered you a few things from Drugstore.com”. I became so humble that when this opportunity came up, I was so ready to go after it because I know what it feels like to not be able to do well for yourself. I asked around, because I was extremely nervous, as to what everyone thought I should get together for Alex that he may like. When I finally gathered a great sense of things to place in the box, I felt a sense of accomplishment because I was able to give to someone who had things taken from them. Someone I felt didn’t need but appreciated the things that were sent to him. I cared not abou8t how much the items cost me because it was not about the amount but about how well you felt afterwards and the enjoyment you felt the other person would get out of the package. Someone you never met took time to think hard on things they thought you would appreciate and sent them to you with a meaningful letter attached is probably a great feeling to have, not because they feel sorry for you but because they feel that “No one has ever become poor by giving”.

Pay it Forward!

(from summer 2015 online AMH 2020 student)

All my life I have enjoyed being with kids; I was good at it and I did it often. In my youth group at church we made it a habit of ours to reach out to parts of our community that we feel churches overlook. I began to fall in love with these children who came from challenging homes. In August of 2013 I began work for a corporation that sends out members to our local elementary schools and we tutor these children. We give them more one on one attention than they would typically receive in the classroom. Starting then, even through the very challenging times, my love for them grew even more.

You can never really grasp the lives of these kids until you work with them 7 hours a day, 5 days a week. I had children come to school every day saying their stomach hurt because they hadn’t eaten since they had lunch at school the day before. Children came with clothes that were very dirty, who didn’t have proper school supplies such as: pencils, notebooks, and crayons. I worked with children who were abused, raped at the very young age of 5, and children who couldn’t sleep at night because of the noises coming from other rooms in the house at night. You probably think I am exaggerating, well I’m not. These situations were shocking and very real and I wanted to do something to change these student’s lives even if it was for 7 hours a day, 5 days a week for one summer or one school year. I knew that I could be a light in these children’s lives.

A main part of my job is to encourage reading. I was read to as a child by some very enthusiastic, energetic, and animated people which is was made it so fun. I wanted to share my love of books to these kids and show them that reading can be fun. I loved reading to my students and watching the younger ones emotions throughout the sad, happy, scary, or silly parts. The older kids enjoyed to read because it was and escape away from the harsh realities of their home lives.

Another way that I enjoyed serving my students was by bringing them little treats such as, pencils or coloring book (kindergarteners really enjoyed those), erasers, books, puzzles, pens. Anything I could think of that was simple but very much appreciated not only by the students but by the teachers and (sometimes) the parents as well. I couldn’t give as much or as often as I would have liked but sometimes that’s how life goes. You have a desire to give and no way of attaining the supplies. I gave what I could and when I could and I wouldn’t change anything about it.

So, for my “Secret Mission” I donated a total of 35 books, pencils and erasers to my 3rd grade class this summer. I volunteered at a reading camp for students who struggled throughout the school year with reading. When the kids opened the books their faces lit up. These weren’t boring school books they had super heroes, princesses and athletes. Reading is a way for children to escape the craziness of their lives and to take them to a place far beyond what happens at home and in the process gives then vocabulary skills and other qualities that will help them their entire lives to become better students and people.

After handing the kids their packets I was sitting back watching them look through their books and talk with each other about reading the same books which was very heartwarming to me. The teacher asked the students if they would like “Ms Bethany autograph” the kids juped up and crowded around me. I love signing those book and know that those kids will have those books for a while (hopefully) and they will always be able to open it up and see my name and remember the love that I have for them and that it is important to care for people. I believe many people today are forgetting that. My whole mission did not cost me much at all. I used the resources that I had to be able to give these packets. The kids did not care how much their books cost they just loved that I cared enough about them to give them the books.

I chose this mission because it really hit home for me. These are my students, children in my community that I have the opportunity to see every day and to watch them grow into better people. I also feel like in order to really do something that matters you need to make sure your heart is right. You cannot (shouldn’t) complete a project like this and not care about the people or person that you are caring for. If you do not care about them then you will not be able to give it your all. I gave these children the best that I could afford based on my income, I am glad I chose to do this project and my hope is that it will speak to others around me and show them how important it is to give to the students in their own community.

My secret mission taught me how easy it is to impact a child’s life and how important it is to act on that knowledge. If we sit around and accept the conditions that these children live in or pity them then nothing is ever going to change. If we can each do one small thing such as donate pencils, books, clothes, shoes, or personal hygiene products we can all show just a little light to a child who deals with so much darkness in hopes that one day that child will remember the kindness we showed and be able to pass it along to someone else and as the saying goes, “pay it forward”.

1Pay it Forward

Cooking for these veterans not only makes them happy, but it makes me happy as well.

 (from an online student AMH 2020 summer 2015)

For my mission I chose to serve food to homeless veterans at Veterans Village.

I chose to make macaroni, after it was suggested multiple times, and cupcakes! As the rest of the food was being set up, I was able to talk to the veterans as they eagerly waited to dig in. Here I got to talk to multiple veterans and hear their stories. I was able to learn more about each individual and what struggles that have faced and ones they are currently going through. I was able to learn about their families, time in the service, and personal interests. These were some of the most interesting conversations I have ever had the pleasure of hearing.

The reason I chose serving these homeless veterans, for my mission, is because I believe they don’t get enough recognition for what they’ve done for our country. Today people have a tendency to be very selfish and expect people to give them things they haven’t worked for, my generation especially. These people generally don’t even that they wouldn’t have half of the things they have today if it weren’t for the military fighting for the freedom of our country. These men have risked their lives so people, they don’t even know, can live their lives freely as they chose. For this reason, I think veterans should be commended for their generosity and I think we, as American citizens, need to show them how thankful we are for them.

Another reason I chose this as my mission is because I come from a family who supports our troops and have witnessed how war can affect people. My cousin’s husband was in the marines and he served in Afghanistan. Knowing him before he joined the service, I can see first hand how combat can completely change a soldier’s life. He suffers from PTSD and any loud noise generally sets it off. Besides my cousin’s husband, my sister is currently an officer candidate for an intelligence position in the marines. Talking to these veterans helps me to understand how lucky I am to have a sister who is as passionate about this country.

Cooking for these veterans not only makes them happy, but it makes me happy as well. I have a culinary degree and cooking is, in a way, a form of therapy for me. To be able to do something I love and have it put a smile on someone else’s face is more than enough of a reason for me. These veterans were so thankful for us taking a few hours out of our day to prepare and serve them food. Being involved in this mission has made me realize how hard it can be to recover from a life of war. These veterans would be living on the streets if it weren’t for this program. This experience was more rewarding than I could have ever imagined. I am definitely planning on becoming more involved with this program and volunteering more of my time.

I did not need to have a lot to give a lot...

(from an online student summer AMH 2020)

I have always tried to be aware of the needs of my fellow human beings, however this semester proved to be filled with outside stresses that made the day-to-day more difficult. My mother seemed to need me more and more and childcare for my little ones kept falling through for this semester’s classes. I was very unsure as to how I would have to time to fit in a true act of service that brought someone joy and made someone’s day a little brighter. I began to think that my simple donation of clothing for the VA would have to suffice. Honestly that didn’t feel like enough. I am glad that I was able to donate clean fresh clothing to those who served my country, but I didn’t feel the impact of such an act was really a game changer. I personally wanted to use this as an opportunity to impact someone’s life for the better. After all, this was to be our mission for the semester. In my mind that required time, thought and effort. Not a quick, last-minute gift that lacked any real consideration. Finally, an act of service, true service came my way. This act was performed for a family member over the course of a month. She and her family moved in next door to her in-laws because her father-in-law has suffered several strokes and they needed to be nearby for safety reasons. This move meant that they would need two incomes. Suddenly instead of working a couple of days a week part time while her children were in school, she was suddenly thrust into the daily eight to five grind. She was able to find a job doing something she loves, but keeping up with the house, the children, the animals and being there for her in-laws was beginning to take its toll. In her struggle, I saw my mission; to help her through a stressful transition through service. I began going over on Fridays and for about 3 hours a day I went about the task of helping with the household chores. I dusted all of the furniture and the fans. I scrubbed the kitchen cabinets, countertops, cooktop and floors. I scoured all three bathrooms top to bottom. I vacuumed the floors and mopped. I washed windows. After that, I spent two Saturdays tearing down old wallpaper, painting, and repairing old grout. Finally she has a clean kitchen! Although my family member is finally getting the hang of her new schedule and I have found very little to do when arriving for my mission, it has been a wonderful experience!

This was a great mission because I was able to see the direct impact of my work. I received the sweetest text from her when she realized who was doing the work around the house. She knew her children were not responsible for the work! The text read: “My house looks, smells and feels amazing! Work was terrible today-training isn’t going well. You are such a blessing!” This warmed my heart. She hasn’t held a full-time job in sixteen years. Going back to work after that time must have been absolutely terrifying. Having to do that while worrying about your father-in-law and getting settled in a new home made it that much more daunting. However, coming home to a fresh clean house, without a giant list of “to-do’s” taking over her evenings and weekends made the transition easier. More importantly she felt loved and cared for. I know too well how this feels, heading back to school with three small children while caring for my mom who suffers from Parkinson’s Disease has been a very uneasy road. It was the little gestures from those who recognized my struggle that made my transition work. That is what I really took from this mission. It is all about being there for someone. Looking past yourself and your own day-to-day and noticing someone and recognizing their need. So often people drown in the feeling of being overwhelmed and alone, fearing to ask for help. It is as if we are not supposed to need help from someone else. Instead of letting our friends, family, a neighbors drown in silence we can pay attention to each other and lift one another’s burdens.

As I said before, I was able to have my children with me which became a really wonderful idea. They were able to actively participate in helping me clean and paint her kitchen which served two purposes. One, they are learning the value of hard work which will be an indispensable gift to them as they reach their adulthood. Lastly, they saw the value of helping someone in need. They were able to experience the satisfaction of seeing someone’s reaction when an act of service is given at just the right time. That joy they felt is something I am certain will stay with them. If that means I am raising children who are able to live life a little more selflessly, I am pretty okay with that. I think if we all took the time to teach children the value of reaching out to their fellow human beings, we may be able to heal so much of the hurt in the world. It would be an incredible gift for all.

I am very glad that I took the opportunity to accept this secret mission for the semester. It was an excellent reminder for me. Often times we allow ourselves to be wrapped up in our own issues to the point that we forget that we always have something that we can share with others. In retrospect, I did not need to have a lot in order to give a lot. It was just me that I needed to give. My time and most importantly my empathy for someone dealing with a struggle, especially one with which I could personally relate, was the best gift. In the end, I am pretty sure I benefitted the most.

Deciding to Help

 (from a student online 2020 summer 2015)

In our current society, random acts of kindness are almost nonexistent. We live in narcissistic society that is only worried about themselves and nobody else. I have fallen victim of this many times without thinking. This assignment has taught me to get out of the thinking of myself, and put the focus on serving others and making other people’s lives better by our one act of kindness. Some people have experienced random acts of kindness such as paying for the person’s order in front of you in the drive thru or asking if the person behind you in line would like to go first, since they have less stuff in the cart. Things like this don’t happen that frequently anymore. As I said before we are too focused on ourselves and our problems we cannot turn around and notice that the people around us need just the same help or if not more. We should as a society rise up and realized others before ourselves. I tried to focus on the problem of one of friends for my mission’s project.

For my Secret Mission I helped out a fellow friend and classmate. She is only 17 and a junior in college, so you can imagine the struggle she has to face. We became friends in high school, and a mutual friend came to my roommate and me asking, if we knew anybody, who could give her a place to live for a couple months until she can find a place of her own. My Roommate and I decided to take her into our home and support her as much as we could. My roommate and I took more shifts at work to pay the bills since she didn’t have a job or any money. This wasn’t easy for anybody in the house. We helped her find a place of her own and eventually she moved out into her own apartment. But the last couple of weeks, I saw, as she posted on Facebook, she was having a hard time buying food and living on her own; since her family cannot help her out as much since her dad just got remarried and has three more kids living in the house. Since she has moved out I have tried to help her out as much as I can, but I have bills and have to provide food for myself. I am currently moving to a different apartment and I saw that I had a surplus of food that was just going to waste; since I work forty plus hours a week and cannot cook as much as I would like. So I contacted her asking what she needed and she said anything and everything is appreciated. As I was cleaning out the cabinets, I realized that I could have taken all the food to the homeless shelter downtown, to feed more in need people, but if I would have overlooked the fact that one of my friends is in need. Friends are the people that are there for you when nobody else is, so it would have been wrong of me not to give her the food. I not only gave her food but I offered, when I get payed, to take her grocery shopping to get necessities like fruits and vegetables. When she came to pick up the food from my apartment, she was so appreciative and thankful for this, she even said, “Nobody has ever done anything like this for me.” This saddened me because how could a society be so cold to ignore the fact that there is so many hungry people, yes even in our country, and nothing can be done because either they make too much money or their parents do.

From this experience, I learned it does not take much to enhance another person’s life positively. In order to do so, you must go out of your way to do something you would not necessarily do on any given day. Just by giving her food she can no longer worry, for a couple weeks or so, where her next meal is coming from. I am grateful that I was able to participate in this opportunity. I enjoyed seeing her a little less stressed for a while. 1I would like to thank you, Dr. Soldani, if it was not for you I would have probably just took the food the shelter and not think about the effect that could have had on a close friend. When I read this in the Syllabus, I was confused about this assignment and how to go about this but once I grasped the fact that I was supposed to enhance someone’s life positively, I knew exactly what I would do. I am realizing now that we, as a society, should be doing these kind of things on a daily basis. Our society would be completely different if we did so. We wouldn’t have the blaming and shaming of people but accepting the people for who they are. This assignment has greatly influenced my life in a positive way, I no longer want to be the stereotypical American who worries of themselves but one whom worries about the people around them. I can say that by giving food that was sitting in a cabinet, would enhance another person’s life in a positive way. This is a unique assignment I have never had to do, but I can say this is one of my all-time favorite assignments of my college career thus far. It not only enhanced others’ lives but it enhanced my own. I am beyond grateful for you, my professor, to opening up my eyes to see bigger and better opportunities around me. This is like the tory of your book I read, when you met Alex you didn’t know the effects he would have on you, but after the experience was over you realized what a true blessing he was in your life. I could say this assignment had that same effect on me. 1Thank you, Dr. Soldani.

Beach Cleanup

(from (from a summer 2020 online student) 

For my secret mission I did a beach cleanup. I am from Jacksonville, FL, therefore the beach has played a very large part in my life. Every year on the morning after Fourth of July I get up at about five a.m. and drive down to the beach with some trash bags. I walk for hours picking up every little piece of trash and non-beach items I can. I know it doesn’t seem like a huge act of kindness or that I am not really helping anyone. And while I may not be directly helping a person or persons I truly believe that I am doing something genuinely good not only for people but for the environment, which in turn greatly affects us human beings. The amount of firework left overs and bottles of all sorts and many other miscellaneous items left behind is almost never ending. By cleaning the beaches I am getting rid of any potential dangers to ocean wildlife as well as any animals or small children on the beach who don’t know what they are getting into. I am also moving this summer so me and my roommate decided that instead of discarding all of our unopened food (since we did not want to lug it to Jacksonville with us), we would pack it all up and take it to a local homeless shelter. I have about six trader Joe's bags full of canned goods and other dry foods waiting to be taken this weekend on our way out of Tallahassee. I chose the beach cleanup because I am very passionate about helping to improve the environment and the lives of people. I also try to pay it forward and help some of the people out there that are struggling to get by, whether it be giving someone a few dollars or in this case sending food to the shelter.

I think the biggest thing I have learned over the last few years with beach cleanup is that you may not always get to see how the things you are doing really help anyone. You may not get the gratification or verification that your actions really mean something, thus making it hard sometimes because you don’t believe that your work alone is bettering anyone. And then you realize that by setting aside a few hours of your time to clean the beach does help not only tons of people, but animals and the earth itself. I find this SO important, it is a learning opportunity, being able to give to others without having to have an immediate pat on the shoulder for doing something good. The world has been so busy making history, we forgot to take care of our planet, and without it, what is going to take care of us? It is basically one big cycle, helping the environment helps us! Eliminating some of the pollution from the beach brings us slightly cleaner air, cleaner water, and overall somewhere much more welcoming than a beach filled with trash. Having clean beaches is something most of us take for granted. There are beaches in other countries (ie Haiti) that do not necessarily have the means and luxury of a constant cleanup on their beaches and are dirty and hazardous due to all the plastic and rubbish that washes ashore. Every year there are homeowners that live on the beach that come down to thank me for what I am doing and some even offer to bring down a bottle of water to show their gratitude. As for donating the food to a shelter or sparing a few dollars to someone in need, the biggest lesson for me has been to appreciating what I have and not taking even the smallest things for granted. The feeling you get when you can see it someone's eyes just how grateful they are for something as little as one dollar in quarters is beautiful. Once you start doing it, you can't really stop. I try to put as many of my quarters and one dollar bills I get back when I use cash in a little compartment in my car so that I always have something on hand to give when I see someone who needs it.

Pork Chop Casserole at Veterans Village

(from a summer 2020 student)

For my assignment I chose to volunteer to cook a dish to bring to the Veteran’s Village in Tallahassee, FL. I chose this mission, mainly because I felt it was something I could fit into my schedule, but also because I wanted to actually be able to meet some people and not just send packages off, not to take anything away from those who sent packages, I just like meeting people face to face. Also, I am deeply grateful for the services veterans have provided for this country and was excited to be able to do a little something in return. Professor Soldani explained the details and gave us several opportunities to sign up on-line.

I decided to make one of my favorite recipes that my mom used to cook when we were having family dinners. The dish is pork chop casserole made with pork chops, potatoes and onions, with diced tomatoes poured over everything. It needs to be cooked for a couple of hours so I had to cook it the night before the dinner. Unfortunately, that is also the night of my almost 3 hour Spanish class, which means I don’t even get home until almost 9:00 pm. I still had to wash and slice the potatoes and season all of the pork chops! I was afraid I wouldn’t have time to finish everything! Fortunately, I got everything in the oven in record time and started working on homework while the casserole was cooking.

The casserole is basically layers of pork chops, then layers of potatoes so it is really heavy. The next morning, I had to get it out of the fridge and into the car, then figure out how to keep it from spoiling at work. Luckily, I work with great people and one of the guys stored the casserole for me in a spare refrigerator in a different building from where I work, (probably a good thing, in the long run since our fridges at work are usually full!) Then I had to get it back in the car, and get it over to the Veteran’s Village, not to mention find the place.

Well, I got there in good time and in fact was the first person there. Professor Soldani had assured me there would be people milling around that could help me get this 50 pounds of food up the stairs, but there wasn’t a soul around when I got there. There was a young lady unloading loaves of bread on a picnic table and I asked her where I needed to go. I parked and went upstairs looking for the right room. I went up the elevator and down the breezeway, but still didn’t see anyone milling around so, thinking I had gone on the wrong side, I turned around and as soon as I did I ran into a wasp. It stung me, pow, right on the ear! Ow! I haven’t been stung by anything in years; I forgot how painful wasp stings are! Well, needless to say, that freaked me out a little, so I went back to the car to see if I had any ice in the car.

1About that time, a young man came towards the car and asked if he could help me. (Finally, one of these people Professor Soldani had told me about!) I asked him if he knew where the dinner would be and he assured me he did and that he would be glad to help me take the casserole upstairs. He was very polite and friendly and he took me to the right apartment area for the dinner. I got the casserole in the oven and in just a few more minutes people did start coming up. I got to meet Professor Soldani face-to-face for the first time and she was truly a delight to meet! I also met another student around the same age as I am, (I think her name was Diane? – sorry I’m awful with names, but she was delightful too) and then several more veterans that live in the village.

Students and volunteers were bringing in more food, and I wasn’t really quite sure what to do with myself for a few minutes, but pretty soon there were more people coming in and more people to meet and talk to. The veterans were also getting hungry so I was trying to hurry the casserole along!

Next, the most adorable little Pomeranian came walking in with his owner. Apparently he’s a little bit of a mascot for the Vet’s Village. His name was Toby. I had a blast getting to know him and was so thrilled he actually let me pick him up! That really just made my night. I know I was there to meet the veterans and serve them a meal, but little Toby was the highlight of my evening. 2What can I say, I love dogs!

Well, the meal turned out great! The casserole was a huge hit; I even had someone ask for the recipe! There was also macaroni and cheese, spaghetti, fruit, banana pudding, salad and cupcakes. There was plenty for everyone and it seemed like the veterans really enjoyed themselves. And I’m pretty sure little Toby got some too!

I would like to thank you for this opportunity to learn more about the Veteran’s Village and to meet so many people that have served our country. I really did enjoy meeting everyone. I would like to actually pop in again one Thursday night and bring another dish over. It was nice to be able to do something special for such a wonderful group of people, and it really wasn’t that difficult to do. This experience has definitely helped me understand that there are always ways to make life a little more enjoyable to others.

It is easy for all of us to be self-centered and bogged down in the day-to-day issues of our own lives. However, it isn’t nearly as difficult as we think to make a positive difference in someone else’s life. And usually, what we do for others ends up helping us even more. 3It is truly good for the soul.

Victory Mail

(from a student in my AMH2020online)

Community service is something that everyone should try to involve in their life. It brings more appreciation to ones circumstances and shines a light on how silly our issues or complaints might be. To be selfless is one of the most rewarding things you can be, it builds character and creates a connection with another person or a foundation that can sometimes have an everlasting bond. Community service can be anything and can deal with anyone. From giving someone who is needy food or a set a clean clothes, to maybe even creating your own foundation to support the cause that you feel passionate about. In my case it was something that I never even thought about at all, something that seemed so simple, that one might think it is unnecessary to say. A simple “Thank you” or just letting someone know that you’re thinking about them goes a long way. It doesn’t seem very selfless and it’s not, but the people who I said thank you to, are one of the most selfless people I have known.

I was thwarted to this service by my sister, Charlie who works for the Department of Blind Services. She had started a writing group to individuals that were in the armed forces. A lot of members of the armed forces don’t receive a letter or anything from their family or friends. Their time overseas and dedication deserves to let them know that they are appreciated; they leave the commodity of a country that has accessibility to almost everything and go to a world of limitations. I chose to concentrate on this because I felt it was something that could be overlooked. In the cases of the armed forces members, it is thought that there are so many people donating their time and effort, one must think what is my letter, badly written by the way, going to do? What can I offer a person that is away from home defending our freedom and liberties when I sit on a comfy sofa, when my biggest debate is what show I should binge on first?

I then realized that probably the person that received this letter wanted to disconnect from the mundane or scary environment he or she was in, maybe they would want a glimpse of what I called home and what I did in my day. I had to present my case to a person I never met to understand that their decision to join was worthwhile.

When it comes to my personality I have a very difficult time expressing my thoughts on paper, it’s more difficult than verbal communication. Someone has to describe and paint a picture for someone to vividly understand what they are reading. I had nowhere to start, so I relied on the internet. I literally searched “How to write to troops overseas” and lessons from others were there. Obviously many people are in the same predicament, they don’t know how to start, and also when was the last time someone from this generation picked up a pen, wrote a letter and actually placed a stamp on something. exactly. I started writing, every letter I would end up ripping up because it would sound too cheesy or condescending or just generic. I didn’t want to be conventional. My first letter consisted of Tallahassee and how warm people here were; I described the insane ducks and geese that were in Lake Ella, ready to pounce on anyone for a nibble of anything, I described my day and asked how their world was.

I have written over 20 letters since I started, the majority of them don’t respond, it could be possibly due to the fact that they obviously don’t have time or maybe a thank you from me is more than enough for them to keep going. The service that I use is http://amillionthanks.org. I believe strongly in the output of positive energy and I would suggest for anyone to pick up a pen and write to a soldier or to make a care package. It is one of purest forms of positivity one can have and show.

I had the pleasure of meeting a combat wounded veteran which I first and foremost thanked him for his service. We convened in small talk and then I mentioned that I had written a few times to soldiers overseas and I asked for his opinion. He said that in reality a lot of the mail that they received was great because there were many people there that would not get anything, in this day and age everyone is in a rush, and a letter in the mail helps people reminisce.

I didn’t think I would learn much from this experience because I felt it was being pushed onto me like a task, but I am so thankful it was. I now plan to start doing care packages and sending them to organizations that send them overseas. Everyone should really take the time and sit and think how luck y we are, and the majority of that thanks and appreciation should go to the men and women overseas. I also plan to start at my job a station where we can write to soldiers and donate to them. I have already convinced a few of my coworkers to start researching and looking in to the idea of writing letters to our soldiers.

Letter writing might not comparably be as involved as taking care of sick children or creating a relief program for the needy, but it is still a kindness and something that someone goes out their way to do. In the end a service is attending to someone else needs, providing what you can, whether it’s time or money. I think that these letters that are sent change the moods of soldiers and allow them to have a connection with someone else besides their fellow soldiers. It is innate to humans to feel wanted and appreciated, we need to feel comforted and know that someone cares; the support of a stranger is just as important as the care of a close friend. I am forever thankful for the their service and I know my 30 minutes of writing does not equal up for their time but it least shows that they are on our minds.

The Amazing Lunch Bag Adventure

 (from a student AMH2020 online)

 

My Secret Mission This semester for Doctor Soldani’s online American History course, we were asked to do something that is out of the ordinary for a normal, college course. We were asked to complete a “secret mission”. I saw in the syllabus that this “mission” was included in our final grade, so I automatically assumed that it would have to do with the course. I was pleasantly surprised when I found out it has nothing to do with history, not that I was against my course, but because of what our mission entailed. Doctor Soldani explained to us that our secret mission would be to do something out of your normal daily routine that might help out someone in need. Whether it be donating your time at the Veteran’s village, sending our friend Alex a care package, or something of our own creation. With my crazy schedule I was unable to attend any of the Veteran’s village dinners, and I saw Alex was getting a lot of love from my classmates so I decided on something a little different for my secret mission. Every day I wake up with a rood over my head, and food in my fridge, and I take that for granted more often than not, wanting the next new Iphone, or planning my next trip out of town. It’s easy to forget about how many people truly struggle from day to day. For my secret mission, I decided to make a bunch of brown bagged lunches and give them out to any person I see in need.

With my crazy schedule that I previously mentioned, I am driving around town a hundred times a day. Often I see men or women on the side of the road and feel such empathy for them and I always wonder how they got to be in that position. More often than not, it is not their fault and they are forced into the last resort of begging on the street. Due to possible problems with drugs I try not to hand out cash to the homeless for fear of them just digging the hole they are in even deeper. So, I decided to make as many brown bagged lunches as I could and put a few in my car each time I go out for my busy day.

On my shopping trip for these lunches, I bought sandwich meat, cheese, bread, oranges, bags of chips, mini Gatorade bottles, and some little Debbie sweets. In total, I made about 15 bags and I kept them all in my fridge. And with all of that food, it was surprisingly not that expensive which goes to show how a little bit of effort can really go a long way. Needless to say there wasn’t much room in there that week, but that did not last long. I would take about two or three of them with me when I knew I would be out and about for the day. It wasn’t every day that I gave one out, but I always had them with me, and I knew my fiancé and I were going to Atlanta that weekend, so I could take the rest with me for any homeless men or women we saw on the drive.

My first experience was with a man outside of the walmart on Tennessee street. I don’t remember exactly what his sign said, but I know it included that he was a veteran. That made me stop and think real deep. How could someone who served our country end up here? Isn’t anyone else helping him? And doesn’t he have some opportunities being a veteran for some career choices? Unfortunately it is never that simple. My mother always tells me that you should always be kind to someone you do not know, because you don’t know what they’ve been through or what is going on in there life at that time. So, with a smile on my face I handed him my first bag. He smiled and told me “God Bless” which made me instantly grateful for what Doctor Soldani was having us do.

Throughout the week I handed out my bags here and there but I still had a good amount left. Heading to the mall to buy a dress for the upcoming wedding that weekend I saw a mother on the side of the road close to the mall and the Winn Dixie near by. Her sign mentioned her family with her daughters and that anything helps. I knew then where the rest of my lunch bags were going. I could never imagine raising a family like that, and for some reason it hit me hard when I saw her sign. I thought of how my father passed away four years ago and what my mother and I would’ve done if she didn’t have work. I thought of growing up living off of handouts and never knowing where your next meal was coming from. I drove home and got the six or seven bags left in my fridge and I gave them all to that woman and her family. I felt as if it was not enough, but it was the best I had, and I truly hope that I made a homeless man or woman’s day a little better with my contributions.

Throughout this experience an episode of Friends kept coming into my mind every time I would hand out my little bag. In the episode, Phoebe argues with one of the other characters that there is no such thing as a selfless act, because you get happiness from making someone else happy. I kept wondering how that if helping people makes us happy, why don’t we do it more often than we do. My eyes opened to the fact that we don’t help people in need near as much as we should, and there are a million and one opportunities out there to do so. Helping others makes us happy and gives us joy in doing so, so why don’t we do it more often? I hope that these missions are like a ripple effect with my classmates like they’ve been with me. I am so grateful that this was a mandatory assignment because of the happiness it’s brought me, which I never thought I would say.

Lunch at Applebee's

 (from a student in AMH 2020 summer online)

 

The summer has almost come to an end.

It has been full of twists and turns. Many interesting things have happened to me since it began. The most interesting thing that happened to me took place about three weeks ago. I met a homeless man in a parking lot and I would never be the same again.

I was back home in Tampa for the weekend and I decided to grab a bite to eat. I ended up driving to Applebee’s to place a to go order, for some reason I was just craving their boneless buffalo wings. As I parked there was a homeless man who walked up to me asking if I could spare any money because he was hungry. Anyone that knows me knows that I rarely carry cash. I really felt bad that I had nothing to give. I suddenly remembered that my American history professor had asked the class to perform an act of kindness and generosity and I figured there was no better time than the present. I called the man back and asked if he would like to join me for lunch on me. He jumped at the offer and seemed genuinely happy to be receiving a free meal.

The man’s name was Jonathan. Me and Jonathan entered the restaurant and took our seats. 1I told him he could have whatever he wanted on the menu. 2He was so considerate and nice. He purposely picked one of the less expensive items on the menu just because he did not want me to spend too much money. After we had placed our orders, Jonathan and I started to talk. I was curious to hear his story and how he ended up in his current situation. His story was amazing. I generally am not one to cry but it did bring a tear to my eye.

Jonathan was an only child. He didn’t have a lot growing up. His Father left when he was just 3 years old and to this day he hasn’t heard from him. His mother didn’t make much money, she worked as a cashier at a grocery store. Jonathan put all of his focus in his education. 3He was determined to provide a better life for him and his mother. I admired that about him, the fact that even in his situation he tried to make the best of things. I also admired the love that he had for his mother and how he wanted better for her. I identified with him because I love my mother dearly and I would do any and everything for her.

Jonathan excelled in his studies, he made straight A’s and he had his whole future ahead of him. Unfortunately fate had other plans for him. When Jonathan was a sophomore in high school, his mother got sick. Due to their financial situation, his mother could not afford health care and she could not afford to stop working either. She started to fall behind on rent and other bills. Jonathan took it upon himself to drop out of school and get a job in order to help his mom with the bills. Eventually his mom passed. It saddened me deeply to hear of his loss.

Jonathan ended up falling victim to the recession that hit in America. His workplace was laying people off. Sadly he was one of the workers that were laid off. His Job could not afford to pay the salaries of all the workers anymore so they had to let people go. Jonathan looked for a job but he was unsuccessful. Life and responsibilities started to catch up to him as he was running behind on his bills and was a few months behind on rent. Fate had dealt Jonathan another bad hand as his landlord had evicted him from his apartment. He had officially become a homeless man. He told me that every day, he roams the streets of Tampa either looking for work or begging for money or food often times to no avail. He told me that on occasion he comes across people who are generous and sympathetic to his situation and he gets money but not often.

According to him, I was the first person to ever offer him lunch and he was beyond appreciative. He kept thanking me over and over again while he was eating. If I had any doubts before that he was homeless they were quickly erased as I watched him scarf down his food as if he hadn’t seen his last meal in a while. He finished in no time and decided to go use the bathroom. While he was in the bathroom I called the waitress over. I was so moved by his story I decided to buy him a fifty dollar gift card from Applebee’s just so that he didn’t have to worry about his next couple of meals. By the time he came back out my food was packed in a to go box and the bill was paid for. We walked outside and to my surprise Jonathan gave me a big hug. He was beyond grateful that I took him to lunch. Before he began to walk off I gave him the rest of my food that I had not finished and I also gave him the fifty dollar gift card I had purchased while he was in the bathroom. Jonathan was speechless. Jonathan gave me another big hug and he started to cry. The sight of Jonathan crying brought tears to my eyes.

It gave me so much joy to know that I made his day and that he at least did not have to worry about his next couple of meals. I often take things for granted and I never stop to think that there is someone out there who has it harder than I do. Jonathan taught me to be appreciative of everything that I have and everything that has been provided for me because there are people out there who are less fortunate that don’t have anything. 4Ever since then I have never been the same. I now look at the positive in every situation knowing that even though things may not go how I want them to, I am still fortunate. I hope and pray that Jonathan is able to turn his situation around and make an example out of himself for all of the other homeless people out there who have lost hope. 5I hope to run into him again sometime, but under better circumstances.