Service Project Blogs
DATES OF PROJECTS
Other Service Trips
These service trips were not written about in my blog
Holiday Card Making
One day I had gone to eat with Tori's family group since she invited me. While we were eating her family members had mentioned that they were going to be making holiday cards the following morning. Since this was a family group thing I thought that they were just inviting Tori, but then they invited me to join and help out. I was very happy that they invited me as it was a fun experience. I was unsure if I wanted to do it at first because they had mentioned doing it early in the morning and I knew I had a lot of work to do. After that dinner I left and thought about what else would I be doing with that time, maybe sleeping, so why not use that time for something more important and helpful towards others. Something that would not just benefit myself, but others.
So the next morning tori knocked on my door and again asked if I wanted to go. I realized that I really wanted to and was looking forward to meeting and bonding with more serve people. So we got ready and meet Brock outside Pritchard. He drove us to another SERVE member’s apartment.
We spent a couple hours in the morning making holiday cards for elderly people in hospitals. While making the cards we watched some of my favorite Christmas movies like “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” and “The Little Drummer Boy”. I spent the whole time while the making the cards singing along to the movies and all my favorite songs. We drank hot cider and sat on the floor huddle around the coffee table. Usually I don’t watch Christmas movies or listen to Christmas songs before thanksgiving, but it was still fun.
I really like how Tori's family group planned this great event to not only bond, but at the same time do an amazing service project. I thought about how I want more of that bonding and relationship building in SERVE. One thing I love about Christmas is how it brings people together. By the end of our time there, the four of us had made so many hand-made holiday cards. It brought me so much joy to see all of those cards that would be sent off to the hospital to make the people who received happy. Sometimes people just need some encouragement and a friendly card to keep them positive. I love the holidays so much as I always have more joy and it is the season of giving; however, every season should be a season of giving. It made me happy thinking about the people in the hospital opening and then reading a cards with a smile on their face.
American Red Cross Club
From the beginning of the school year, and even before, I knew I really wanted to be involved here at Virginia Tech. I wanted to be in numerous clubs and organizations and just do as much as I could. When gobbler fest rolled around I went and signed up for a couple different organizations and clubs, and was therefore put on their email list. One of those clubs was the American Red Cross Club, as I thought that it would be a great service opprotunity that is related to something I am intersted in.
On the other hand, I didn't realize how much work would be required for my classes and how much of my time would be occupied, so I did not go to any of the meetings or projects. I really wish I did commit and make time for it from the beginning of the year. As I was looking through my emails I saw an email about volunteering at the blood drive they have often. They were asking for people to hand out snacks and drinks to the donators and make
I asked my fellow friend, Tori Smith, to donate blood and she said yes. She was very excited and showed up full of energy. Sadly, she was informed she could not donate blood as she was too short and small.
I interviewed Tori Smith about this traumatic experience and she expressed her sorrows explaining she very upset she could not participate and donate her blood to this worthy cause. During the interview she said "I don't like being told I cannot do something." I realized that this is an interesting problem that occurs not only with doanting blood, but other service projects also. People are not physically able or allowed to volunteer because of certain restrictions. Another girl I talked to who was also volunteering there, wanted to donate her blood, but could not because her iron was too low. I understand that these regulations are for their own safety, but it can be frustrating when one just wants to help. When one just wants to give to those in need and is told they can't because of physical restrictions, which are things that are hard to change or can't be changed.
I enjoyed seeing all the people donating their blood that could help save people in need. It can be very nerve racking donating blood for the first time. Having a needle go into your skin and taking out a good quantity of blood. I know this was the way I felt when I first gave blood. When I was in high school there was a day our local hospital came and asked people to donate blood. I had thought about donating for hte couple days leading up to that day, but I was really nervous. I was in our school's service club and realized by donating I it could fill service hours and I could miss my physics class, which made me very happy.
First I filled out my information. Then I had to get my blood drawn to be tested so they could see if I was able to donate. This whole time, leading up to donating, I was a nervous wreck. I stressed talked to the man drawing my blood, going through all of these "what if"s, like "what if I faint". In the end it all worked out. While all my blood was being drawn I was so overwhelmed with joy that I would help save people.
