Community Service Narrative: St. Mary's Food Bank
Throughout the course of October and
November I participated in eleven hours of community service at the Phoenix St. Mary's Food Bank. Avolunteer operated organization, St. Mary's
typically receives forty to one-hundred volunteers a day who assist in a variety of ways. During the time I contributed, I was introduced to the assembly line method by which up to 1,400 pounds of food for families can be packaged by the helping hands of volunteers in a matter of hours.
On the first day upon arriving at the food bank in the morning, working with other youth fr
om Phoenix and surrounding areas, we formed an assembly line upon a stretched out roller in which I worked at the front of the procession separating bags and placing them into carts to pass down the line so that others could fill them with an assortment of foods.After three hours we had produced enough food bags to feed multiple families for a week.
Returning to the food bank on
November 6th with some friends, we partook in the same process, but this time I got a ch
anceto work a different part of the assembly line. Three hours were spent unpacking crates of apple juice, one bottle to be distributed to each of the dozens of bags. Clean up!
Efficiency! Competitive packing makes good teamwork ;) After a lunch break, we returned to an unexpected, yet important job when faced with the task of sorting through stacks of tomato boxes in search of mold. Separating the usable from the garbage, I was once again at
the start of the production process, assembling boxes to send down the line for packing.
Given the time of the year, approaching Thanksgiving, when returning to St. Mary's Food Bank on November 13th I was given the opportunity to take part in assembling Holiday Food
Bob the builder? On a loose can scavenger hunt
Boxes. 
Condensing the assembly line roller
Once again working inan assembly line, a combination of other volunteer groups such as churches, families, and even court ordered individuals participated in producing approximately a hundred holiday boxes with assorted non-perishable fooditems for Thanksgiving dinners. Fortunate enough to enjoy the experience with friends, I was not only appreciative to know we were contributing to feeding families for the holidays, but also having fun while doing it.
Double bagging Sarah and Alana!
Civic Duty
“Ask not what your country can do for you- ask what you can do for your country,” one of the most influential lines spoken in history by John F. Kennedy, is the underlying concept of civic duty. A free and prospering democratic nation, The United States has become this way due to the contributions of individuals acting to improve society, fulfilling their responsibilities as citizens in supporting the commonwealth. It is vital that citizens are conducive in maintaining their duties to “ensure and uphold certain democratic values written in the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights... [including] justice, freedom, authority... participation, patriotism, human rights, rule of law, [and] mutual assistance”(Self, 1999). Observing these responsibilities can be done in a number of ways, most significantly through voting, paying taxes, serving on jury duty, registering for the military, and becoming an active participant in the community.
Engaging in the democratic process is an important role in fulfilling one's obligation to their country through civic duty. Citizens in the U.S. are fortunate to have the opportunity to freely voice their opinions and influence the progress of our nation through elections, therefore, though it is not mandatory, it is everyone's responsibility not only to vote, but to become well informed on key campaign issues and candidates in order to make the best decisions to strengthen our democracy and represent the needs of our nation. Furthermore, it can be expected that citizens consider volunteering on behalf of candidates or running for office themselves (Duties 2009).
Taxes, whether state or federal are instilled with the intention of bringing good to the nation through necessary public services ranging from education to law enforcement which contribute to the safety and welfare of all, ergo requiring expenditures funded by the people. As individuals living in America and enjoying the benefits of these public services, it is everyone's responsibility as citizens to care for the well-being and desired improvement of their community and contribute to maintaining order by paying taxes to build state and federal budgets so that these necessities can be managed.
Serving on jury duty is yet another important aspect of fulfilling one's civic duty. Permitted the right to a trial by jury in court, a liberty that many take for granted, citizens are ensured a system of justice, one that the people have the obligation to sustain with participation in the name of preserving the democratic value of justice in America.
Although all males in the U.S. are required to draft upon becoming the age of eighteen, registering for the military is a civic duty that emphasizes the patriotism and freedom our country stands for. As a citizen reaping the benefits of belonging to America, one is obligated to serve the country by defending the Constitution and all that it represents.
Additionally, involvement in the community through philanthropic deeds, community service, and volunteering is also a significant form of civic duty. Promoting “responsible citizenry” through serving the needs of others demonstrates mutual assistance, while also developing people into productive members of society (Self 1999).
Whether it be voting, paying taxes, or volunteering, civic duty is paramount in creating "active participants in community and government"(Self 1999) as well as molding responsible citizens to function in society. Blessed with a country in which all are granted the freedom of expressing their voice and the opportunity to flourish in a life of liberty, citizens of America must remember that this freedom comes at a cost, and it is every person's obligation, duty, and allegiance to their home to show their appreciation as a citizen and partake in their civic responsibilities.
Community Service Implications Analysis
Volunteering, freely donating time and labor to assist an organization, individuals, or a cause is a significant form of performing one's civic duty. Though we live in a prosperous nation, filled with opportunity and success, we did not achieve this without democratic principles building a strong foundation, something that would not be possible were it not for the helping hands of citizens performing their responsibilities as members of society by contributing to their community through volunteering.
A song called “Do You Feel,” conveys a message expressing the attitude of so many numbers of people, admitting the empathy felt for all the sorrows of others, “and how [one's] hands can create some better things for bettering, but you see for now I got my own things.” In a society today where everyone's lives run at breakneck pace, most seem to be so caught up in their own everyday worries that they are inactive towards the burdens surrounding them. What too many overlook is that the freedom they have living in this country comes at a cost, and it cannot be upheld without the contributions of its citizens. This is where the importance of civic duty through acts such as volunteering comes to hand. Civic duty comprises of "actions and attitudes associated with social participation"(Duties 2009), revolving around the responsibility citizens hold to make an effort to improve their community and country. What better way to achieve this than to give oneself fully through contributions of time and labor in a selfless manner with the intention of working for the welfare of others, making an effort to diminish these burdens one by one?
Participating in community service, “by getting their hands dirty and actually doing work, citizens experience the value and impact of giving to people and learn to be productive members of society” (Duties 2009). This is an opportunity I was able to take part in by serving at St. Mary's Food Bank, volunteering time to package food so that it could be sent off to families in need, contributing to the well-being of others in my community. The concept of individuals coming together to perform a task as simple as placing cans in a bag, but an action that in perspective has such monumental implications is an amazing experience. One person packing a can, another juice, another taping, then passing it along to each person who completes a minor, yet significant contribution in the process, the endeavor of one becomes part of something greater, eventually providing a family with meals for a week. All it takes is a little effort from a few people collaborating to make change and help others to make a huge impact.
With numerous opportunities for individuals to volunteer, such as through food banks, soup kitchens, participating in the construction of a house, or teaching needy children to read, there is no end to the possibilities of making an impact in another's life and bettering the community through the power of one's contributions. Improved by the actions of individuals contributing to the welfare of all by creating a sense of democracy in united effort, society excels when everyone fulfills their responsibility of providing the best for the country they live in through their assistance. No act is too small or insignificant if it is in the name of helping society. It doesn't take much to make a difference, just individuals making the decision to create some better things for bettering.
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