Service Learning for the Good of All

(3) What about this service work is different than what we do on the Leadership team?:
There are two main types of service work. All service work has an impact, but depending on the work that is done, a service project might either have either an instant impact or a lasting impact. While being on and working with the Leadership team at Southwestern College I have had the great pleasure of being provided opportunities for both types of service work. Certain service sites that are worked during Freshman Workday provides an instant gratification. I have painted a Winfield man’s home before who could not paint it himself. Once the project was complete the instant effect was seen in the happiness on the man’s face and on the outlook of the freshly painted and cleaned up house. Yet, I have also participated in long-lasting projects, such as the food packaging during homecoming week. This is food that is not necessarily always utilized locally, but by boxing up food packets, the students at Southwestern College provide service in places where they are not able to see the effects. By packing food and shipping it off, the need is known, but not as visible. While packing food at Share in Philadelphia, this same type of lasting impact was created. The Leadership team was able to box up 1,401 boxes of food to send to the homeless and the elderly throughout Philadelphia. While these boxes of food were not given directly to the needy while we were at Share working, the service seemed different than previous experiences with lasting impacts in Winfield, Kansas. The difference being that there were homeless on every corner in Philadelphia. Travel to anywhere always involved someone coming up and asking for food. The need appeared greater while in Philadelphia and the motivation was strong for this reason. Even though Share created a lasting impact, the need seemed more apparent in Philadelphia, and therefore, service as simple as food packaging turned into an act more gratifying than service in Winfield where the need is less apparent. There is work to be done for all and it is amazing how work done in a different context is able to change the outlook of the service.Read more