Doodily Doo

I volunteer, through my church, at a soup kitchen. There are only two of them in the county that I live in. These places provide a much needed meal for some people. It is run by mainly volunteers who take a few hours out of their day to help prepare and serve lunch.

I admit, freely, that I do it because of how I feel when I leave. I feel like I've done something good for people that I do not know. I also do it for the reminder. It is a reminder that there are other people in the world who are in need of help. It reminds me, especially when I feel down about myself, that there are people in the world who are worse off than I. Purely selfish reasons, as you can see. But these selfish reasons are a portion of the motivation that makes me volunteer.

It is a life-altering experience, to say the least. You never forget the faces. You never forget the sound of the children's voices. The children are what affects me the most. They can make you wish you could do more.

The point of all of this is...

If you happen to live in an area that has a soup kitchen, call them and volunteer. If you don't know of any, call your local social services office. They will have the information you need. If you do volunteer and are needed, do so with the best of intentions. Remember that you are there to work, and work is what you'll do.

If you can't volunteer your time, donate. They can ALWAYS use food donations. If you are unsure of what to donate, call and ask what is needed the most. Do a local food drive. Have a group of people, ones you know or even strangers, donate food to keep the soup kitchen's pantry full.

And most of all, if you ever feel like your life is crap, take a look around you. Look at the ones who do not have a roof over their head. Look at the ones who do not get three meals a day. Look at the children that lie their heads down at night with a rumbling tummy.

Life doesn't seem so bad when you think of those things, does it?

Volunteer !!