Laynie Milam
October 1, 2015
Give a Hand
“Where do I begin?” I asked Ms. Mary my first day. “You can go to the back and
organize toys with the others,” she said. I wandered to the back, picturing a few boxes of toys,
only to see four giant bins and numerous trash bags literally overflowing with toys. Before I
began volunteering at Helping Hands, I had never gone through so many stuffed animals, Barbie
dolls, cars, and other playthings. Along with helping the financially unstable in my community, I
also enjoyed the people I worked with and the new experiences and appreciation for what I
possessed that I gained through volunteering.
I volunteered at Helping Hands, a non-profit organization that collects donated items and
sells them at a severely reduced price, targeting customers with an unstable financial status.
Many of the people who shop there are financially unstable and greatly appreciate the cheap
prices. Mothers shopping for school supplies with a tight budget can find clothes, shoes,
backpacks, books, and even sporting equipment for the athletic student. I stocked toys, games,
picture frames, and even coat hangers. Furniture, televisions, and vacuum cleaners can be bought
and loaded into the customer’s vehicle. In addition to stocking shelves, I also helped the
customers find what they were looking for and then cleaned up after them. I enjoyed
volunteering at Helping Hands and helping the poor in my community.
In addition to enjoying helping people, I also enjoyed working with the people. Many of
the individuals working there were completing their hours for probation. However, all of the
folks I met there had outgoing and friendly personalities. Each time I went, I met new people and
made new relationships. I met one teenager named Dustin who I talked to the whole time
nonstop, and then ran into him once at the store. Even now, after several months, I would still
like to see him again. One of the supervising men gave me a hug the second time he saw me and
continued to give me one each time I returned. I joked and teased with the people I worked with
and was often seen passing a football with them. I talked with one man about his son rebelling
and not wanting to do his homework, and with another woman about her mischievous toddler.
Overall, working with the people made the job much more fun than if I were by myself.
The people I helped and worked with introduced me to new experiences and made me
appreciate what I had. Many of the customers came into the store wearing old, worn-out
clothing. The children were dressed in mismatched outfits and filthy shoes, probably the only
pair of shoes they owned. I saw the look of joy on those children’s faces when they saw the new
(to them) clothes and shoes in the basket. And they were all so excited when they got to pick out
a book with pages missing and torn, or a toy that was broken and dirty. I learned many lessons in
my time there about not taking the clothes on my back or the shoes on my feet or even the food
on my table for granted. Also, the people I worked with gave me a new appreciation of the safe
neighborhood I lived in, the loving family I had, the money my parents made, and the wonderful
opportunities I was blessed with. I was homeschooled and received an excellent education while
some of the kids I met were burdened by the declining public school system. Many of them grew
up without a mom or dad and were never properly raised, turning to drugs and crime as a way to
cope with their anger and depression. Helping and talking to these people gave me a new
perspective on life.
I completed forty-eight hours of community service, volunteering the last Saturday just
for the enjoyment of it. I met numerous new people, communicating with them on a personal
level and even giving them advice. I also learned new skills, like how to maintain a store, as
small as it was, and how to operate a baler. My life has been changed since working at Helping
Hands, and I continue to think about those hours I spent helping my community. I am grateful
that I had the privilege to work with and help such wonderful people and that those experiences
shaped the way I look at life today.