Lillian Garner Jackson

Through this experience, I developed my teamwork and communication skills. I had to talk with others and make sure we were all on the same page. This helped me get better at working with different people. I learned a lot about the community I was serving. There are many people who need help, even if you don’t always see it. It made me realize how important it is to give back when you can. During this service, I worked as part of a team. Working together made everything more organized and efficient. It also made the experience more enjoyable because we were all helping each other. The organization supported me by giving clear instructions and guidance. They made sure I knew what to do and were always there if I had questions. This made me feel more confident while I was working. If I could change something about my approach, I would try to be more involved from the start. It took me a little time to fully get into the flow of things. Next time, I would jump in quicker and take more initiative.

Through this experience, I improved my problem-solving skills. At times, things did not go as expected, but I quickly adjusted to the situation. This helped me learn to think quickly on my feet and act fast. This service influenced my understanding of the community I served. I learned that there are many people who rely on others for support. It made me more aware of the needs around me. I worked as part of a team during this experience. Being on a team made the work easier and more organized. It also made the experience more enjoyable because we were all working toward the same goal. My service contributed to the goals of the organization by helping complete the tasks they needed done. Every small effort added up and made a difference. It felt good knowing I was helping support their mission. One unexpected challenge I faced was adjusting when things did not go as planned. I overcame this by staying patient and asking for help when needed. In the future, I would try to be more prepared and ready to adapt.

This experience helped me develop listening skills. We were given specific instructions for what to do. It was important for us to listen and make sure we were following instructions. My service impacted my awareness of social issues. I know that there are people in the community who are hurting. But it means a lot more and makes me a lot more aware of it when I am directly serving these people. I was able to connect with Alpha Gamma Delta Alumnae. I met the owner of the non-profit I was serving at. It was really nice to meet her and hear her why for doing what she does. My service helped make twenty flower arrangements for women in the community. We were doing them for Valentine's Day. It was helpful for achieving the overall goal for the holiday. In the future, I would treat this service opportunity less as a hangout situation. We got to spend quality time with one another in the chapter, but sometimes I lost focus on the mission at hand. I would make myself remember why I am there and who I am serving.

Through this experience, I developed my teamwork skills. We had to work as a team during my service. It was important that we worked together to achieve our goal. This experience did not change my perspective on my role within the community. Rather, it reminded me of my role. I have been blessed with the ability to serve others in need, and I should take the opportunity to do so when I can. I worked as a team during my service. This made the operation go a lot smoother had it not been a team effort. It also made the experience very enjoyable to work together. I do plan on volunteering with this organization again. I have been volunteering there for about five years. I have enjoyed volunteering here. My service did align with my personal values and beliefs. I believe in serving others who need it. That is exactly what this organization is about.

General Questions: My direct service benefitted the broader community by delivering groceries to those in my community who cannot afford them. I served those in my community of Ripley who are poor and less fortunate than I am. They are always very thankful for our service and happy to see us. 1. During my service, I worked as a team. It made the service a lot easier. Some people push carts; some people put groceries in the carts as you push them to each station; some people stand outside getting information from the people we serve. There are a lot of different working parts involved, and having a big team helping makes the whole process a lot easier. 2. During my service, I developed my food sanitization skills, as we are required to wear gloves when working with and handling food. I also developed my communication skills, as communication with my team members as well as those I served is very important. 3. I do plan on volunteering with this organization. I have been volunteering with them for several years now, and I have loved serving with them, I love the people there, and I love getting to serve the less fortunate people in my community.

I donated fifteen cans for the canned food drive.

Skills and Personal Development
Through this service event, I was able to develop my communication skills. I was able to talk directly to members of my community who are in need, and I was able to learn more about them. I also was able to develop my problem-solving skills; if something went wrong, I had to think quick and be able to adapt to fix the problem.

Understanding and Awareness
This experience did change my perspective on my role within my community. I have been blessed with so much and am so fortunate to have everything that I do. I should be using that and my position in my community to help those who do not have as much as I do.

Relationships and Teamwork
I worked as part of a team during my experience. This made the process go a lot smoother. Rather than trying to do everything individually, we had certain people doing specific jobs so that the whole operation would work.

Organizational Impact and Alignment
I do plan to continue volunteering with this organization. I have been volunteering here for about five years now. I love it more and more every time I go, and I love meeting new people and giving back to my community.

Reflection and Improvement
Sometimes when I volunteer here, it can seem more of a task or because I have to do it in order to get service hours. But, in the future, I will always remember that this is not something that I have to do but something that I get to do that benefits so much more than me. It benefits my community and those in my community who are in need.

Skills and Personal Development
I was able to develop and improve my organizational skills. Through this service experience, I was tasked with reorganizing office spaces, copying and scanning paperwork, and filing cases. All of these things required me to keep everything organized and in a neat fashion so that others could also use them.

Understanding and Awareness
My service made me realize that there are a lot of social issues in my small town. There is a lot more crime that happens than I realize. And more importantly, there are so many people who are victims of crime that are seeking justice for what has happened to them.

Relationships and Teamwork
For the most part, I worked individually. I think this benefitted my experience because I was able to do my tasks the way I wanted and needed to. I was also able to learn more about myself by working as an individual.

Organizational Impact and Alignment
This organization supported me so much during my service. Anytime I had a problem or question, they were willing to answer and help me. They also gave me so much valuable knowledge for the future.

Reflection and Improvement
In the future, if I get to volunteer here again, I will change my mindset to this service. Sometimes it felt like annoying busy-work, but it really was valuable experience that everyone in the criminal justice field needs. Overall, I am very glad and grateful I had this opportunity.

Skills and Personal Development
This experience challenged my problem-solving skills because I encountered many people who did not have the proper information needed to re-certify for Bags of Hope, and I had to help them get the correct things together to be put into the system.

Understanding Awareness
I learned that there are many people in my community who need help. They are less fortunate than I am and do not have proper food, education, resources, etc., and I can use what I have to serve and benefit them.

Relationship and Teamwork
I had the opportunity to meet many new people during my service that I did not know before. It really makes the service worth it when you are meeting and connecting directly with the people you are serving.

Organizational Impact and Alignment
The organization supported and guided me by giving me clear instructions on what to do and how to do it and answering the many questions I had during the experience.

Reflection and Improvement
My service did align with my personal values and beliefs. I believe that because I have been blessed with so much and so many opportunities, then I should use them to serve others who do not have as much as I do.

Skills and Personal Development
I developed my food sanitation skills. Certain foods must be dealt with properly, wear gloves when handling, and wash hands before and after handling. I also developed my people skills more. I meet and talk to a lot of people through this organization, and it is important to remember that we all come from different backgrounds and are diverse.

Understanding Awareness
This experience did change my perspective on my role within my community. I always forget how much of an impact I can make and how much my service does matter. I may not be able to help everyone, but serving just one person makes a difference.

Relationship and Teamwork
I worked as part of a team during my service while packing bags and taking them to cars. This made the experience a lot better and run a lot smoother.

Organizational Impact and Alignment
I do plan to continue volunteering with this organization. I always have an enjoyable experience, and I love getting to serve the people of my community in ways that align with my personal beliefs.

Reflection and Improvement
In the future, I will try to keep a good mindset about serving with this organization. Sometimes, I forget why I serve there. It feels like I go just to get my hours in, but I need to remember that I am serving a cause greater than just myself.