1. Where the student volunteered their time
I spent all fifteen of my hours volunteering at ParentSmart in Rock Hill.
2. How the service activity reflected concepts learned in the HDFS curriculum.
The activity that I volunteered for was Holiday Partners. I helped those less fortunate families in the community sign up across several days to receive assistance in giving their kids a great Christmas. I had to analyze their income level, number of people in the house, and proof of legal residency before allowing them to register for assistance. It wasn't easy or comfortable to get these parents to open up to me about their forms of income, such as disability, food stamps, and/or no form of income. A lot of the parents that came in where ashamed at asking for help. But, there were some who swallowed their pride so that their kids would be happy at Christmas. As I did so, I realized just how blessed I was as a child. Part of the HDFS curriculum requires that we demonstrate empathy for others. So, I found myself considering the perspectives of these families as I was telling them that they did or did not qualify for Christmas assistance. The Holiday Partners project helped me to realize that hidden bias does exist, but it is not acceptable. I had some preconceived notions about some of the groups of people that came into the agency to register, but after talking with them one on one as I filled out their paperwork, I truly got to see that they did not fit what I had imagined. I got to know a little about each of their kids as I wrote down the interests for every child in their family. I got to work directly with those families in need. I provided services to them, in a sense. I provided them with resources to a better quality of life. Thanks to this program, the children in these families will have a happy Christmas, in spite of their family's economic situation. To me, this activity embodied the "helping" aspect of the HDFS curriculum as I feel I did just that for all the families that I interacted with on those days.
3. How the student networked with other professionals while participating in the activity and what they gained from that networking
While volunteering, I networked with the volunteer coordinator and the director of ParentSmart. The director of ParentSmart, Cindy, provided me with information about the agency itself and other agencies that partner with ParentSmart. I found this to be a helpful network because they work directly with the school system and I have previously worked in some of their partnered schools. So, this network showed me that I already have linkages available. The volunteer coordinator is also a parent educator at ParentSmart. Whilst in the agency, she and I had several conversations about my major and what I wanted to do after graduation. Her name is Robin, and she actually asked me if I was interested in doing my internship with ParentSmart. Unfortunately, I have already done my internship for HDFS so I missed that opportunity. However, she informed me that there were openings in ParentSmart for parent educators and urged me to come work for them once I graduate. She had thought I was graduating in December and would be able to start in January, but she said I would still be able to obtain a position in May. This network was very beneficial because I plan on doing just that once I have my CFLE. An internship with ParentSmart would have been absolutely perfect to gain experience at what I truly want to do, but I feel comfortable in knowing that Robin still wants me to be an employee of hers.
4. The potential effect the service activity and/or the service organization can have (or does have) on the community
The effects of ParentSmart's efforts tremendously benefit the community. They offer childcare services to parents wanting to get their G.E.D., parent education courses, and English language courses for those who are not native in English. To me, ParentSmart helps the families in the Rock Hill/York community develop resiliency from whatever adversity they may be experiencing. The agency provides them directly with resources that are geared towards their individual/familial needs, and even provides them with access to other resources. Overall, ParentSmart believes that well-educated parents are the foundation for the well-being of children in every family, and their work promotes effective parenting. The Holiday Partners program/activity also has a profound effect on the community. It provides Christmas assistance to those families who truly need it. The children are provided with toys that are matched to their interests. However, these are just based on donations and are not a guarantee. There is not a limit on the number of children that can receive toy assistance, but their is an age limit. Children over the age of fourteen cannot receive toys. But, the program itself is a lifesaver for all the families it serves. For example, one father that came in to register had his youngest son with him and informed me that he had six total kids, one with severe special needs, and really needed the help from Holiday Partners last year because he and his wife both had lost their jobs right before Christmas. He had proof for all the things that he was telling me, but I could see on his face the relief he felt at being able to give his kids a decent Christmas this year. By helping out other families in need like this, the community has done its part to see that everyone is taken care of. No family was turned away; everyone received assistance. Even though the families do not receive the toys until next month, it was very clear for me to see how a burden was lifted off their shoulders just by talking with me and registering their family for the program. In my opinion, this was the perfect opportunity for society to demonstrate that it cares about and values everyone from all different classes. The Holiday Partners program directly affected those in the community because it provided them with assistance during what is typically the toughest financial strain on families--Christmas. Parents whose families are served by this activity have one less stressor on their backs because the Holiday Partners program looks out for them.
5. A general reflection on the assignment
Overall, I greatly valued this assignment. Had I chosen another agency to volunteer for, my feelings would likely be much different. I walked into ParentSmart not knowing any of the staff members and walked away feeling as if I have another family. They welcomed me into their agency, provided me with the necessary training for the Holiday Partners event, and talked with me about future employment. I wish that I had more time in my schedule to volunteer there, but it just isn't possible right now. The Holiday Partners event also brought me a lot of joy because I walked away each day feeling as if I had given back to the community, even in some small sense. It also made me happy to know that I was helping someone else become happy, even if for a brief moment. I got to interact with parents and their children, all of whom I had never met before this experience. So, this activity also helped me build experience in working with people, in general, but also in working with people from diverse backgrounds. The only thing that I would change about this assignment is how late in the semester I waited to do it. If I been volunteering with ParentSmart since the beginning of the semester, there's no telling what all I could have done with them. I'm very grateful for this assignment because it helped me to become a better person and a better professional, all while working for an agency that is dear to my heart.
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