Weeks of Welcome Day of Service

Attending the first Service on Saturday event of the year with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis was a pleasure. With this volunteer experience, I was granted the opportunity to develop my skills in communication and teamwork. To effectively complete each assigned task, it was vital that I, as a participant, openly communicated my questions, commentary, and knowledge to work best as a team in achieving a shared goal and making it a pleasant time for all. As a team, we organized and priced merchandise as well as cleared shelves for new products to be sold at the Restore.

This immersive situation taught me that volunteerism is critical to sustaining a community and promoting the most optimal life for all citizens through equity and inclusion. As a town, Collierville has remained community-conscious in opening a Habitat for Humanity Restore for citizens who may not be as economically fortunate and require additional financial assistance. As a first-year student, being welcomed into this group of individuals who regularly engage in community service was exciting and comforting. I was greeted by several upperclassmen who were gracious enough to take me under their wing to make this first Service on Saturday a success. Thanks to my site leader, Chadai, and fellow Emerging Leader, Raven, for being thoughtful and considerate. Throughout high school, I volunteered with the Habitat for Humanity Restore location on Winchester Road, so I was looking forward to helping out at the new Collierville storefront. I am a huge advocate for the mission that Habitat for Humanity endorses, which is to provide people with security and resources to not just survive but thrive.

For this reason, I will always return to volunteer with this organization that continually gives back to the community and embraces the non-profit lifestyle. Regarding future opportunities, my aim remains to persistently step outside of my comfort zone and challenge myself to overcome fears that I have previously allowed to dictate my behavior. With improved communication and more familiarity with the process, I am confident that I can complete this personal initiative. I was honored to help this branch of Habitat for Humanity get closer to its grand opening in early September so that it can carry on with aiding people in the Memphis area.

Great experience here at Botanical Garden, helping out for the children and kids

It was great met really great people