Reflection On Dignity, Love And Respect

Dignity, Love and Respect

As a Girl Scout, I was introduced to different endeavors. There was always the opportunity to volunteer. My troop and I went to nursing homes, animal shelters and even The Ronald McDonald House. Throughout many years as a Girl Scout, I was always looking for more ways to volunteer. When I was in eighth grade, my troop and I visited our local soup kitchen, The Mary Brennan INN. As soon as I stepped in the door, I knew that this was the place in which I would spend most of my time. During our tour, we were able to see where the guests ate, showered and shopped. Our tour guide had explained to us that during a normal weekday over six hundred hungry guests would come in to enjoy a hot meal. Looking around the room at the empty seats, I couldn’t imagine that this many people were in need of assistance in my own backyard. This non-profit organization was not only providing food and a refuge from the cold, …show more content…
Each time I volunteered, I would bring a different friend wanting them to feel as I do. As the summer went on, I realized that I soon had more than one friend involved. I still attended the Youth Advisory Board meetings monthly and was asked to talk about my volunteer experiences. Questions were asked and awareness was made. The more we sat discussing the needs of the guests, the more friends I made. Being a part of the INN introduced me to people from many different schools who were interested in the same things I was. As a fourteen year old, I didn’t think that there was much I could do to get involved. The Youth Advisory Board has developed me as a leader as well as a compassionate young adult. This experience has opened my eyes to the amount of people who are in need in our own community. I was taught that you do not have to be homeless to be hungry. The hardest part for many is taking their first steps into the INN and admitting that they are in