Alexandra Contreras

My direct service benefit the members of the broader community by offering warm and fresh prepped meals to the less fortunate and to those experiencing food insecurities. This was a people facing experience serving the homeless mostly and they were grateful and appreciative for my time and efforts. Skills that I had an opportunity to improve on was being able to multitask efficiently. I worked as a part of a team during this service and this impacted my experience in a positive way because we were able accept different job roles that were all equally important but this created a smooth flow to assemble trays. I plan to continue to volunteer with this organization because they are so welcoming, thorough with instructions, thankful for my time, and constantly willing to teach about their purpose and impacts.

For this experience I was able to work with the less fortunate population directly. This population of people were appreciative, positive, and thankful in response to me being there. This service contributed to the overall missions and goals of my sorority of whom I served with in that our philanthropy is dedicated to fighting hunger in our community and this organization does just this by providing services to equip families with food to fight food insecurity. Working with people that I knew and am close with impacted this experience in a positive way because I felt more connected with them in seeing how eager they were to get out and help this population. I do plan to return to this organization for future volunteer opportunities due to their welcoming and willingness to due the work they do along with how well they make the volunteers feel welcomes and equipped.

My direct service benefited the members of the broader community by giving hope and hospitality in a safe environment as structured by the core values of this organization. The population I served consisted of the homeless looking to get back on their feet. Their reactions to me being there this time was not as evident however, everyone was appreciative, patient, and welcoming. I learned more about how this organization pours ministry, resources, love, respect, and community to those homeless residents that reside here as they work to get back on their feet and into the real world. For this experience, I worked individually and this had a positive impact on me. It was positive because I was able to push myself out of my comfort zone to meet others and not clique up with others I might've know. The impact this service had on me personally was it helped me to see and appreciate the things and resources I have on my life and it made me want to continue to give to others.

My direct service benefitted the members of the broader community by equipping the less fortunate individuals with food and clothing supplies they were in need of while engaging in conversation. I served the underserved and less fortunate population. Their reaction was grateful and appreciative. One skill I improved was my socializing skills as I served with other random volunteers for 3 hours and wanted to engage in more character development with them. The impact this service has on me personally is fulfilling my leadership style of servant leadership. The members and organizers for this group were very clear about what they needed help with during my service.

This was a people facing experience to serve with 901 Pop for Baptist Cancer Center. While I did not deliver the flowers, this organization was very welcoming and appreciative of my time and support. I was able to learn more about this organization and their aim in giving back to others through repurposed flowers. This service helped me improve my professional and social skills as I was collaborating with others who were also working to piece together these arrangements. My service contributed to the overall mission of spreading joy through repurposed flowers and handwritten notes that this organization dedicates to.

My event was people facing and I was able to serve the Lebonheur Children's Hospital patient, faculty, sponsor, and family population at this race. I worked as part of the UofM Lebonheur Paws for Service team during this opportunity and this impacted my experience in a positive manner because a lot of these members also had connections to this organization. This service aligns with my personal values of servitude and being able to serve others for a children's hospital I also work at and have grown attached to. With this, I do plan on continuing to serve with this organization because I am looking for work here after graduation and continuing my networking I have already started for my profession.

During this service, I was able to improve my communication and hospitality skills. This service did align with my personal value of inclusivity as this organization's mission is to help rebuild the homeless to get back on their feet. An impact this service had on me personally was that I went home humbled and reminded of how much I have to be thankful for at home.

Something I learned about the local community and environment of the MidSouth Food Bank is that stores including target and kroger are major contributors to donating foods. My service here including volunteering with my sorority. This was impactful because our philanthropy is Fighting Hunger and we partner with this organization to help this cause. I do plan to continue to volunteer with this organization because they are organized, welcoming, and passionate about educating about their cause and purpose.

This service was people facing and it directly impacted residents. The reaction from incoming freshman out of state and their families was so appreciative and it really left a good first impression of Memphis. For this service, I worked independently and it had a positive effect on my experience as it pushed me to talk and meet with others that I have never met. This impact was a positive reflection on all of the organizations I attach my name to. I believe that it reflected the highlights of a student leader devoting her time to ensure residents felt welcomed and assisted during one of the most chaotic times. Through this experience, I improved my communication skills.

Rebekah Fahey  3 years ago Hi Alex, please update your reflection according to the guiding questions on page 18 of the EL Handbook.

I enjoyed participating in this event to prepare a youth program. At this event, I assisted hot glue certain activities and I was also about to go out side to help wash algae off of playhouses. I then came inside and used a certain cutting machine to cut out butterfly stencils that would be used for creating rings. I was able to meet others that were members at this organization and learned more about the ins and outs of the mission and. I was also able to connect with their volunteer coordinator. This was overall a good experience