Student Service Project Report Summer 2016
“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel” , stated by Maya Angelou. I have heard that particular quote many of times and never really knew what it meant until now. When I stepped out of my own comfort zone to help others that were in need it showed me the true meaning of what Maya Angelou meant. I’ve been faced with many situations in life where people may have forgotten what I said and maybe even what I did, but I’m sure those that I helped while at a low point won’t forget how I made them feel.
During the week of the fourth of July, I sat with my husband and made invidual gallon sized bags filled with differents sanitary items to give to those in need, during this process of filling the bags my more than curious three year old wanted to know just what mommy was doing. I took this as an opportunity to explain to her that mommy and daddy were giving out items to help the less fortunate sanitize as they don’t always have the chance to do so.
So on July 9th, on my way to Crawfordville for my nephews birthday party, I handed out individual gallon size bags with different items based on gender to hand out to the homeless. We traveled along North Monroe Street and made a stop at Walmart, gas stations along the way and also when we came to stop lights that happened to have individuals in need. I filled each bag depending on gender a little differently, for the women I made sure to include feminine products, sanitary products, toothbrush, toothepaste, deoderant, socks and a bottled water. For the men in need, I put socks, a toothbrush, toothepaste, deoderant, and also a bottled water.
The joy in the face of some of these men and women that I got to witness due to something I did for them myself willingly and not forced to do by someone made me feel delightful and it made me feel as if maybe I made a difference in someone’s day. Of all things that I had the opportunity to do I never saw this happening as I have always been a little terrified of going around people that I don’t know.
However, now that I have seen what I did and felt how I felt after seeing the glow in the homeless individuals faces as I handed them simple items, I know that I made a difference. If people in our community would stop stressing over the simple things and stop acting as if those in need are scary aliens maybe we will be able to come together as a community to slow the pace of people becoming homeless. I’m sure there are “homeless” people out there that are not really homeless and that are taking advantage as they just don’t want to work but why is it fair that we let those bad apples ruin the ones that really are in need.
My hope in the exchange of these few minor items, is that I can make an impact among our community as a whole. I want those men and women In need to know that there are people out there that do care for them and I want them to see that there is more to life. I would love for those that have the opportunity to give to those in need to understand that it is the small things in life that matter the most, like giving to others even when you don’t feel like the little things are enough those little things could mean the world to someone else.
