final take action blog

Volunteering at the YWCA was very interesting and worth it. I ended up working in the store there for parents who cannot afford Christmas gifts could come and get them. Two other girls were volunteering there too from our class. We had to take all the boxes and bags of donations and put them in the rooms they belong in, so it was easy for mothers to find. When we finished putting all the stuff in each room we organized the rooms and set it up like a store. We surprised Adriane with what we got done because the three of us put a big chunk of the store together for them. It was very nice to make her so impressed and happy with our hard work.   I was so impacted by this project, even though I will not get to see the smiles on the children's faces Christmas morning. I know they will all be happy because there were so many amazing gifts that each child should love. I never knew the YWCA had this store that I told my mother about it. We both decided that we will try and donate gifts for the store next year. I will extend my project by donating and volunteering at the YWCA whenever I can. I enjoyed this project so much that I even talked to my sorority sisters that we are going to try and volunteer at the YWCA next semester.   The volunteering itself did not add to my learning in this class, but the interview did. There was a little confusion in my process of volunteering because there were a few Melissa's and they got me confused with another Melissa that I went in to see a counselor. When Christina realized I was the wrong one she was okay with it, and just talked to me about the projects the YWCA does and she let me interview her. When I asked her what was significant about her job and what she did to help women’s issues she said, "I help women with issues they have so they have someone to talk to. I also help out with the safe house we have, and I am on call every once in awhile for women. I also am very involved with the sex trafficking in Genesee county by letting women know there is other ways to support your family then Prostitution." I then asked her why she chooses to work there and she said she worked there because she loves helping women, and the YWCA is a big organization to help women. She also said she enjoyed working with all her coworkers and the women she works with because they are like a big family and is always there for each other.  I really enjoyed this project. It was so nice getting out there and helping women and children in need. Everyone at the YWCA was very welcoming and very grateful for the help we were giving them. They all were sad to see us leave, but said they hope we will return to volunteer again.