1. My direct service benefited members of the broader community by helping them give their children Christmas presents.
2. At this time at toys for tots , I had to count out all of the toys and make sure that it matched the count of the kids in surrounding counties receiving toys from Toys for tots.
3. I plan on coming back to this specific organization next year because they’re seasonal and it was extremely fulfilling to know that I was able to help children get gifts for this Christmas.
4. At this time at toys for tots I was able to work on my multitasking skills. When counting the toys , I also had to organize by age & gender on where I was supposed to put the toys after counting them.
5. The first time I came to Toys for Tots , the service impacted me greatly! The people that I worked with made me have fun while organizing, I improved on my multitasking skills, and it was all for a good cause.
My Reflecti++++++++++++++++++++++++
on
How did your direct service benefit members of the broader community?
My service at Toys for Tots allowed me to help unpack the massive toy collection and do a head count after organizing each different item and putting it in its respective tables. Doing all of this labor involving the toys provided the preparation for this holiday season. The children in need were looked over by this nonprofit organization that leaves positive impact on the community by giving the kids hope around Christmas time when they see all of these fun items that have a beneficial effect on the development of their childhood.
Which population(s) did you serve?
I served the children in need because the gifts they end up seeing under the tree are provided by this selfless organization. Toys for Tots makes all the difference on Christmas day because seeing joy and happiness from the items donated does a lot for these young impressionable kids.
What was their reaction to you/your group being there?
The event coordinators were thankful to see my group be there with eager helping hands. There was so much work that needed to be done in the earlier sessions of this service opportunity. We were doing true warehouse work because we were still taking inventory while organizing all the goods. Every group and helping hand there was greatly appreciated because there was so much that needed to be done, and the more the merrier.
What skills did you develop or improve through your direct service?
I developed my patience along with my organizational skills. I had to count each toy or game and make sure the numbers aligned with the anticipated inventory number. I had to make sure we had enough donations in stock for this organization to be able to fulfill its traditional duties, so there was quite a bit of pressure on us volunteers.
Did you work individually or as part of a team during your service? How did that
impact your experience?
I worked as part of a team during this service. I would not have been able to accurately count and sort out all of these items on my own. It would also be hard to stay motivated on my own because it was one of those tasks that could easily begin to feel like boring busy work when I got tired.
What impact do you think your service had on you?
This service allowed me to take a minute and think about how much good is still left in this world. We often overlook the good things like this organization, merely existing to benefit and boost the spirits of those in need. Not only does this service benefit the children's morales, but also the families. Every family in need can worry about one less thing during the holiday season because of Toys for Tots' generosity to the community. It made me come to terms with the fact that I can also be the good in the world. I obviously might not have as big an impact as Toys for Tots does but I definitely can still contribute whatever I am capable of which will add to the positivity of my community.
I enjoyed my time at Toys for Tots. My direct service at Toys For Tots directly served the families whose parents or loved ones are serving in the marine corps. Our service benefited others by helping the process of Christmas shopping and festive holidays go smoother. I learned how they have another volunteer session where we can go and personally help the children of these families shop for christmas. I worked as a team for this volunteer session and it impacted my service by making tasks get done more effectively, while having a fun time. I do plan on continuing to volunteer here because I love how our service is impacting others all around the country and I 100% recommend others going out to volunteer here. The lady in charge is very sweet and explains all the background info and how our work is impacting others.
Hi Lucy, please update your reflection according to the guiding questions on page 18 of the EL Handbook.