The Secret Santa

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving and is looking to kick-off the holiday season! With winter approaching and the holidays nearing, there is no doubt that people will shop and travel to various places around the country. However, there is a lot more to the holidays than just shopping and traveling. 

For me, the holiday season is my favorite time of year. Not only do I get to relax with my family and friends and enjoy the seasonal traditions, including tree lighting ceremonies and ice skating, but I also get to spend time giving back to those in need of holiday cheer. 

There are countless ways to volunteer and help others during the holiday season. Whether you want to spend one hour of your day or three days of the week helping others to have a merry holiday, here are three easy ways to lend a helping hand in your community.

1) Food banks - Volunteering at food banks or community kitchens is one of the most fun and rewarding experiences you can have during the holidays. Many soup kitchens have volunteers prepare and serve warm meals to those in the community who are in need. I have learned that volunteering at food banks and soup kitchens allows you to learn about the needs of a community and how the community is working to combat those needs.

2) Toy drives - If you enjoy shopping, buy toys that you are able to donate to a community toy drive. For instance, toy drives such as Toys for Tots, provide toys for less-fortunate children in the community. The program collects unused and unwrapped toys to bring the holiday spirit to children. I truly enjoy donating to toy drives because I believe that each child should be able to receive a gift during the holiday season. I hope that more people can donate to toy drives and help make the holidays enjoyable and memorable for every child in need. 

3) Clothes donations - Winter can also serve as a time when people clean out their closets in preparation for Spring. If you are thinking about cleaning out your closet and throwing away old clothes, why not take those clothes and donate them to a local charity or thrift shop? Often, local schools and community organizations will host clothing drives that allow people to donate gently used clothes ranging from shoes to coats to accessories. There are also thrift stores located within communities that re-sell donated and used clothes. Every article of clothing - whether you believe the item is useable or not - should be donated because the charities eventually sort the donations and still receive money for clothing they recycle. My incredible opportunity with The Rescue Mission last fall allowed me to learn about the donation process and how organizations handle donated items that are unable to be sold or used. 

Amidst shopping for loved ones and traveling to visit family, make a difference this holiday season and spread love, warmth, and the gift of giving to those in need. 

Photo credit: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_fbGoltD6oPj_uxBHZjRXQ1rD_HEAXpq2k1Xu6mq4wp86uxvuIZuFBBRseKVDPU-vwo_70xXCnmUPc9-4KWgVbebSaF2IL5blEDV3DSkk-pM8EGRFIMUWRf_L8586QiKOrQ1J0hVemcDF/s1600/holiday+giving1.bmp

The Importance of Literacy and Education

Happy November! After a long break away from writing (it's been crazy busy with school work and co-curricular activities), I just have to tell you about my incredible experience at this month's Service Saturday event. 

Over the weekend, I volunteered at the Family Reading Partnership's Kids Book Festival, which works to promote early literacy for young children.

My job for the day was to help out at an activity station in which children could enter into a fake grocery store in order to shop and learn about the importance of fresh vegetables and fruits. Sponsored by the Cornell plantations, the fruits and vegetables that were set-up allowed children to easily scan the aisles for items that matched the colored sticker on each of the five dollar bills they received. Once they finished picking out their five items, they took the fruits and vegetables and checked out at the cash register. 

Although this task seems menial compared to past volunteer activities, it was a rather complicated task that involved good organization of the products, as well as efficient communication with my partner. 

With about six volunteers at the station, it was difficult to hear and communicate with each other, especially with young children running around the market. One of the ways we became organized and performed our roles effectively was through a routine procedure in which two people worked with the children, four people helped out at the cash register, and two people who organized the aisles and filled them with fruits and vegetables. 

As I worked with the children and explained to them and their families the directions to the activity, I learned that I truly have a passion for working with children. I found myself to be engaging and enthusiastic when it comes to taking care of children. 

Through this activity, I have also learned that there are many different ways of classifying fruits. For instance, a member from the Cornell plantations explained that fruits come from seeds; thus, vegetables such as the corn kernels, cucumbers, tomatoes, and squash could also be known as fruits. 

My experience at the book fair allowed me to realize the illiteracy issues that Tompkins County faces. I learned that there Tompkins County has several resources for low-come families, one of them being the Family Reading Partnership. Although people see the city of Ithaca as a small college town, many fail to recognize the social issues that plague the area. Volunteering with organizations that work to address specific issues help me develop an open-mind and become a person who is more aware of her surroundings. 

This Service Saturday was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever participated in. Not only did I discover that I have a true passion in working with kids, but I also learned about an issue that will certainly cross my mind the next time I volunteer in Ithaca --- literacy. I think that tying in reading with other important components to a healthy mind, body, and spirit is a great way to teach young children to become academically, emotionally, and physically healthy from a young age. It is important to promote healthy lifestyles and have children develop a love for reading at an early age because healthy lifestyles allow them to develop critical and analytical skills to become successful students and citizens.