Community Service!! Fall 2005 and Spring 2006 By: Britney Headley

Reason I do Community Service  It gives me a chance to give back to the community.  I receive a great feeling of accomplishment!  I love working with my class mates and friends!  It looks GREAT on resumes and applications!

Different Service Projects I have participated in….  Victory For Victoria  Adopt a Child Foundation  Second Harvest Food Bank  Humane Society  Goodwill

Victory for Victoria! A run to support Victoria and her family  Unfortunately, Victoria Newsome battled Medulloblastoma, which is a very common type of primary central nervous system tumor in children.  It was hosted by Valwood School Saturday November 12,  There was an option of 5k run, 10k run, 1 mile fun run, walking, or a ghost runner.  All the money raised was donated to the Newsome family and Victoria’s memorial service.  I did not attend the run. However, I did help by babysitting the kids, while the mothers organized the fundraiser.

Adopt a child Foundation  This past Christmas, I participated in the adopt a child program.  To participate you are required to buy and wrap a children’s gift.  You must label your gift with the specific age group your present is for and whether it is for a boy or girl.  Due to this wonderful program, many children are able to have presents to open on Christmas Morning.  A lot of the kids asked for things like toothbrushes or underwear. It is horrible that these children are worried about bathroom supplies, when most kids only think what kind of toys they want.

Second Harvest Food Bank Mission Statement: “We distribute food and grocery products through a nationwide certified member of networks, increase public awareness of domestic hunger, and advocate for public policies that benefit America’s hungry.”  It is the largest charitable hunger relief program in the nation!  Has over 200 members of different food banks and food-rescue organizations.  Secures and distributes over six million pounds of food every year!  All food is Donated!  The organization hosts programs such as: Valdosta Food Bank, Kid’s Café, Manna Truck, Rescue Valdosta, and Community Kitchen Program.

Second Harvest Food Bank! We volunteered at the food bank one afternoon, but we were surprised with the amount of work that was required by this organization! First, we watched a movie about the entire process of saving and storing food. The groceries must be check very closely to make sure that they are safe to use and eat. There are strict regulations that must be taken into consideration when salvaging food items.

Let the real work begin!  After the video we were asked to help stock the shelves.  We unpacked TONS of boxes filled with groceries.  We then placed the food on the designated places on the shelves.  If there was not a space for a certain item, we simply made a new place for it.  Luckily, Gabrielle was asked to do some office work ( in the A.C.)  The rest of us worked in the over- heated warehouse. It was all good though!!!

Presenting the Check!  We were able to raise $150 for Second Harvest Food Bank.

Goodwill  Good will is one of the largest non-profit organizations in the country!  They provide education, training, career services, and quality processions at a very cheap price.  The products are all donated and sold at more than 2,000 Goodwill retail stores.

Erin and I at Goodwill  Erin and I volunteered at the local Goodwill one afternoon.  We straightened and swept the entire store!  We were able to see the back room where the load and unload all the donated goods.  I was surprised to find out that if a certain item has been on the shelf for a long time, they will put it in the stock room and refuse to sell it to anyone!

Car Washes!!  On Saturday April 1, 2006 we washed cars to raise money for Second Harvest Food Bank.  Even though there were only about eight people there, we raised over $150!  It was tons of fun in the sun!!  Last semester our FYE class also participated in a car wash to raise money for Victoria Newsome. At the end of the day we had raised nearly $300!!  I have been active in two different car washes this year!  They were my favorite community service jobs!

Conclusion……  I am very happy I signed up for the Freshman Year Experience Program.  It gave me a chance to give back to the community by participating in community service.  I have also gained many new friendships with my class mates!  I hope that many upcoming freshmen will decide to enter this program as well.