Profile of a volunteer

One of my life’s motto’s that I live by is “ Only a life lived in the serve to others is worth living”. (Eistein, n.d.) One of my most memorable volunteer experiences was the time I was able to serve breakfast at the local homeless shelter on Christmas morning. This experience was joyous in more ways than one, because I realized that the shelter has an extreme growing need of volunteers, and during the holiday time there is not as much help as other times. Some reasons may include the usual volunteers travel, or spend that time at home with their families. 

On this particular day, I had to wake pretty early because the shelter serves breakfast at 5:15am-7:15 am every morning. Once arrived I was greeted by a member of the shelter staff, whom showed me around the kitchen and assisted me in finding all the materials needed. At this location volunteers are able to bring in food to cook with which I understand lessens the use of materials on site for other meals throughout the day and or week or use of donated food/materials from local restaurants, supermarkets and community donations. 

On this particular day we were informed that we should prepare for 70-80 guest. It is required by the staff that shelter guest shower and get dressed before coming into the dinning room to eat. We prepared a menu of Bacon, Eggs, Grits, and Pancakes with the drink choice of coffee and tea. We were made aware that we had families with children, and their pancakes were made in the shape mickey mouse. 

It took assigning tasks, maintaining certain posts, music and lots of laughs to make the morning progress. I remember when the window opened up and seeing all the faces prepared to eat, hustling and bustling to make sure everyone was satisfied and hearing many expressions of thanks with words of gratitude. I remember taking a second to take in what was happening. Here I was thinking I was simply there to provide a meal and walked away with so much appreciation to community resources for providing opportunities for the public to engage, assists, and be informed of the needs. 

Once the food was served I was able to walk around the dinning hall, meet and greet some of the residents and hear some stories of how they’d been saying at the shelter for quiet some time, or the story a mother of three that express what it was like to be with her children and have some place warm to wake up too instead of being outside. 

It surprised me at the willingness of the guest to openly share their journeys with us and maybe to them it was a opportunities to have someone to listen without judgement and offer positive vibes. 

This experience sparked interests in me to volunteer there after this event, I was able to share my experience with others who inquired how could they get involved through pictures from the morning and since I have donated my time, and clothing to help some of the people at the shelter. When my family came to town to visit me months later I took them to the shelter where we bonded over creating a meal together and aiding in making someone else’s day through providing an experience of music, smiling faces, and overall positive engagement for others. 

Using Social Media to Get Connected

I use social media avidly for connecting with old class mates and family.  In the past I was on MySpace and thinking back now it was a trend that is no longer popular . I am mindful of post that I put up because once it's out in the media universe it stays forever. People can be and are judged off pictures, sayings, and messages that are directed to reflect situations.

Social media has its benefits in the sense that it is a free tool to use to market and inform people of a business or bring attention to issues that affects a variety of communities. Effective advocacy is spread through the mobile use of people's cell phones, I pads, tablets, and watches etc receiving information is no longer restricted to receiving a mailing in order to be informed. Yet alerts are popular to sending reminders or flash information to supporters, potential funders and

I personally can stay abreast of what resources are out there. Technology gives us the freedoms to click, upload, search and trend within a matter of seconds. One of the latest features I have personally used was Go Fund Me, which is an online tool to send money for cautious causes, its beneficial because it erases the fees associated with wiring money.

Are any of you bloggers outside of the assignment for school?

Advocacy Messages

By nature children are curious and some may say that is a feature that they love about their child. It is important that the adults are mindful of where that curiosity may lead that child to get into and not see the danger in playing with certain items can come with. This particular advertisement is bringing attention to Parents locking up their guns if they have some in the home or on the premises. It does not take any expertise or time for a child to gain access and attempt to play with a live and loaded gun and hurt himself or someone else.

The average child watches more than 21 hours of live television a week and another six hours of pre-recorded television, DVDs and videos. Advertisers strategically play certain commercials during particular programming. This is their marketing tactic to sell more products, or influence children to persuade parents to buy items and where to go for meals and activities.

If you are what you eat, your brain is what it experiences. Video entertainment is like mental junk food for babies and toddlers. American Academy of Pediatrics warned that children need to cut back on screen time because children are just sitting around verse interacting with others, or moving around and being active.  

Some moms have gained a sense of pride in being able to breast feed their child. As of 2015^[update] within the United States, legislation permitting breastfeeding in public has been passed in 49 states and a limited federal law applies to federal government premises.

It's natural and should be celebrated however in all instances that is not the case. This picture depicts a mom who is sitting in a bathroom stall feeding her child. Her facial expression is not that of someone that is happy to be sitting on a toilet as a resting place to feed their child.  

I've worked with teen moms who showed excitement about breast feeding their child and the second it's time to go back to school that excitement weans off and she becomes hesitant  with the idea of continuing because she feels there will not be a place for her to pump at school, or she'll miss a lot of time from class due to leaving out to go pump.