Today, I had the opportunity to volunteer at Room at the Inn for their Serve with a Smile lunch program. During this event, I helped serve meals and assisted with welcoming and interacting with community members who came for lunch. I enjoyed participating in this service because I saw firsthand how a warm meal and a positive interaction can brighten someone's day and foster a sense of dignity and community. Working alongside fellow volunteers to prep, serve, and clean up also allowed me to strengthen my teamwork and communication skills. Experiences like this continue to reinforce the value of serving others with compassion and working collectively to support our local community.
Gave 2.00 hours on 10/10/2026 with Emerging Leaders Program, Volunteer Odyssey
I helped serve brunch at Room in the Inn. After serving the food, I assisted with putting everything away and washing the dishes. While volunteering, I also had the opportunity to talk with some of my fellow volunteers about how volunteering helps us realize how easily we can take the little things in life for granted. One situation that stood out to me was when a woman took all the juices for her sons and left without saying anything. I expected an employee to track her down and ask her to return the extra juices. However, the employee simply said to let them have it because we never know what someone else is going through. She explained that the juices might be part of the only food the woman and her children had received in a while. After reflecting on her words, I realized how important it is to approach situations like this with understanding rather than judgment. This experience reminded me to be more patient and compassionate toward others because I never truly know what someone may be going through or what challenges they may be facing.
Gave 2.00 hours on 10/03/2026 with Center for Service Learning & Volunteerism, Emerging Leaders Program, University of Memphis, Volunteer Odyssey
