Community Service Prompt

        Stephanie Tapia

May 11, 2016

Period 1

Community Service Prompt

        I volunteered at the Los Angeles regional food bank located in south Los Angeles. At the food bank they had me do various things, each time was different. Often they would split the volunteers into groups where we would then sort out food into boxes or bags that would them go to neighborhood schools to feed children in need. Other times they had me sorting out milk and bread making sure that it wasn't expired. On other occasions they had me putting boxes together so that the groups could have a place to put the sorted fruit and/ or vegetables in. Volunteering for just three and a half hours per day makes such a huge difference in these people's lives, at the end of each day they announce how many people you helped feed which makes me happy that I helped feed people in need.

        One thing that made a positive impression on me was how organized the staff was in making sure the volunteers were productive. From the moment we got there until the time was up, the whole volunteer staff was working all the time and they condition the environment so that the volunteers are productive and yet manage to learn a little of those around them. What also impressed me was their backpack program for elementary schools. They prepare bags of produce so that children can take home on Friday and have sufficient food for the weekend due to the fact that many children do not have the luxury to eat meals at home. Many of the times I was there, I helped assemble these bags. The last thing that impressed me was the patience it requires to sort out food. Several times I had to sort of food and make sure it was not expired. It took a lot of concentration to make sure they were still good to go because when you see so many numbers they all look the same