SOME OTHER HO MAKING A DIFF CAMP CLEAN

From the busy perspective of any well-performing student, many see their volunteer work as a chore or as a boring project which would be insatiable to the uneventful, relaxing day that they hope for. Some Other Place, although not necessarily keen to be called relaxing at the least, is something that can be considered as a feel-good event; something that satiates the feelings of interaction– either by meeting fun, nice, weird, or even crazy individuals.

The very first time upon volunteering for the project, I had only known certain details that I was told: making sandwiches, preparing lunch bags, and giving out bags and drinks to people in need; I was also forewarned about the imminent feelings of danger and uneasiness that would accompany me for that experience as well. So, walking into the building itself worried me, as I saw the people outside with baggy and stained clothing, fatigued and disdainful looks, and the bags or carts of personal belongings with them. Resultantly, I was not very keen on seeing this as a particular project to be worth sprawling out of bed at 8 am on an empty stomach just after a long school day.

As I walked through the red door that contrasted the shadowy, dark undertones glooming outside of the building, I would be introduced to an array of peers in the exact same position: calling their parents to tell them they were safe and the people outside were, in fact, not a danger to them. However, with a supervisor watching us, we slowly started feeling at ease. We began with making sandwiches in the kitchen; this particular day we made egg salad sandwiches. I remember being able to talk with people I had yet to know and peers about school, experiences, and the apparent worry that we had coming into this project With our vinyl gloves on, two people laid out bread to put scoops of egg salad in, and the two others would bag the sandwiches All other volunteers worked on bagging chips outside the kitchen After everyone had finished we put a snack bag, a sandwich, and an apple in each of the paper bags to prepare to give them out I have never been unfamiliar with a kitchen or work environment, as I have worked in the food service industry.

However, Some Other Place had something more distinguishably special to give– other than experience, it had changed my perspective on certain people and pushed me to appreciate and value things that even outwardly seem boring, disdainful, or worrying The individuals I met giving the bags out were undoubtedly not as well-dressed or well-washed as most customers you would serve at a restaurant However, they treated us with more respect than we had given them, even though we were younger, more naive, and unappreciative of the gifts we were given.

Everyone remembers their first experiences differently some entirely changing their views on homeless individuals and others earning a certain degree of respect for them and the organization working with them. At the very least, each person is at the slightest impacted by the work that they do with the organization, whether it be personal or otherwise Walking out of the building, I came to respect the people who came out and helped others and grew even more respect for those who unashamedly received help with no less than a great attitude and greater smiles– something I had not initially shown them in the beginning.