There's nothing better than getting involved in your community. Just to know that you are helping your community become a better place. One action at a time. From picking up a small piece of trash to starting a nonprofit with the goal of assisting the homeless (with food, water, shelter, or other related items they may need), it all makes a big difference. It's all just one domino in a long chain of dominoes. If one of the dominoes is missing, the desired effect may not occur. Therefore, I like to get involved in the community often. I feel like I'm fulfilling one of the functions required for a healthy community. As I volunteered at several Goodwill stores and Salvation Army locations, I discovered that they also wanted a healthy community, and that's why they do what they do. We talk about it in my essay on my volunteering experience. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Working at Good Will may have been the best decision I could have made. I know I'm forced to receive these community service hours, but honestly, I feel like it's helping me more than I could have ever imagined. The employees (people who worked willingly for a living) were always so happy. Have you ever seen a movie set in a hotel? Isn't it strange how all the hotel staff seem so happy to greet the cast? This same feeling, was the feeling you got when you walked through those doors of goodwill. It wasn't Wal-Mart. The employees were not afraid (or so it seemed) of having to go to work on the scheduled days. Barbara, the manager, was always ready to assist the employees and her customers. Overall, Good Will gave me a great life experience, but Good Will wasn't the only positive experience I received while engaging in the community. Working at the Salvation Army was also great. It was a bit like the work I did on Good Will. While working here, I was able to use a cash register and was a foot off the ground. Since I'm six feet tall, I don't think this was a very smart idea. Whenever a customer approached me and asked me to come check out, I always felt uncomfortable because I towered over them. It was an empowering feeling, but I didn't want it or need it at the time, so it was just embarrassing. For four hours I was stuck like a giant. It was weird, boring, and mostly dead. However, I saw the need for it. The Salvation Army had better deals and I feel they were aimed more at the homeless than just poverty. It was a long but positive experience that I gained working at the Salvation Army. As I worked at both stores, Good Will and Salvation Army, I felt this feeling of community. When I worked there, everyone seemed to need something. They didn't just want something, like when you want a new shirt, they needed something, a shirt, a pair of pants or even shoes. You were so involved. I often wondered if I should ask them about their situation and see if they needed cash, food, a place to stay, or anything like that. Unfortunately, this would make the company look bad and potentially turn away more volunteers. Regardless, I get it, I have a great life. I see those in the community, realize I have a great life, and begin to wonder: How can I now help those in need. I received more experiences than a sense of community. I also felt a great sense of joy from the operators.They shouldn't have been there. They could have canceled that day. They didn't have to smile, care about the customer, or sincerely try to make sure the customers had a great experience, but they did it anyway. Made me question my customer service skills. I feel that rather than faking an attitude, the employees were actually happy. Which is surprising. You're at work, you spend most of your life helping others, but you're not angry or sad, instead you are happy? This is quite surprising. I'm always afraid of work. Even when I love what I'm doing, there's this slow part of me that says "let's not do that." It was so nice to see others happy to go to work, it brightened my day! Overall, it was an amazing experience. I feel like my time working at Good Will and Salvation Army was well spent. I also feel that without this experience, I might be missing out on something huge. Yes, even though I gave back to the community, I honestly feel like the community just gave me more. I would recommend getting out in your community and getting involved. You never know where it will take you! Child poverty is a serious problem nationwide. The average family in poverty lives on less than $24,000 a year. Without appropriate clothing or shoes, children face unfair obstacles where they do not feel valued. I knew I wanted to get involved and make a difference in my community. During the summer of my freshman year of high school, I spent my time volunteering at an amazing nonprofit, Cradles to Crayons. Cradles to Crayons provides children living in low-income circumstances with essential items such as clothes and shoes. A shift of volunteers at the factory involved hand-out distribution of items to children on a daily basis. Duties included sorting, inspecting and packing donations at various stations. Once the items were fully packaged, they were ready to be sent to a special, needy child. Although the tasks changed every day, the energy in the factory remained the same. Volunteering at Cradles to Crayons has allowed me to connect with others and meet new people who share similar passions. I have enjoyed working with some of the kindest and most thoughtful people. The experience taught me empathy, compassion and teamwork. Working with people you've never met before can be intimidating at times, but it has helped me strengthen my communication skills and grow as a person. It has helped me develop character and leadership, transforming me into a more patient and responsible individual. At the end of the shifts, the volunteer leader announced how many children we had helped that day. It amazed me to see how such a small act can make a huge difference in someone's life. Donating two hours of my day to help children who need it most is nothing but helpful. My experience volunteering at Cradles to Crayons taught me the importance of gratitude. I began to appreciate all the things I have in life - food, clean water, a home, a family - and serving others reminds me of what truly matters to me. I will continue to give back to others in my community no matter where I find myself going. This experience helped me appreciate my ability to impact others. Community service brings out qualities within me that I never imagined existed and has inspired me to strive to be a better individual. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay To see the smile on a child's face makes everything worthwhile.