Diosa Chantelle Rowell- The Manna House Pantry

Diosa Chantelle Rowell- The Manna House Pantry

Where the student volunteered their time
I volunteered my 15 hours at the Manna House Pantry. The Manna House Pantry is a non-profit food bank that is operated though Mt. Prospect Baptist Church, located at 339 West Black Street, Rock Hill, South Carolina 29731. The food is donated from the Second Harvest Food Bank, Charlotte, North Carolina.

2. How the service activity reflected concepts learned in the HDFS curriculum
The food bank service reflects the concepts of HDFS curriculum because the service is a great resource for a FLE to refer their clients. The service provides each family with healthy foods such as three vegetables, two fruits, eight can goods or package foods, two dairy products and three meats, and a bread and sweet box. This service activity reflected HDFS curriculum by understanding the needs of families and knowing that in order for a child to grow, have physical strength and the ability to stay focus and concentrate in school, and to stop childhood obesity they need healthy foods. A FLE also has to know an elderly person also need healthy foods to sustain their strength. This service activity reflected HDFS curriculum because as a FLE we have to communicate with families one on one and treat each family in need with dignity and respect.

3. How I networked with other professionals while participating in the activity and what I gained from that networking
I volunteered on Friday mornings so most of the volunteers were retired or senior citizens. I did not get to network for job opportunities however, it was great networking with other veterans. I was amazed to see that the older veterans and myself had some what of the same work ethics and thought process. It was a pleasure working with them and exchanging old war stories.

4. The potential effect the service activity and/or the service organization can have (or does have) on the community

The Manna House Pantry and Mt Prospect Baptist Church has a great impact on the surrounding communities. On Saturdays the doors are open for families in need of food. On Sundays the doors are open for worship.
On Wednesdays the doors are open for bible study. They also offer dinners though out the year. They offer income tax preparations, blood pressure checks and they keep the community informed on HIV/AIDS and Breast Cancer by doing the walks in the community and informing the community where they can go for screenings.

5. A general reflection on the assignment (e.g., reactions, feelings, life lessons)

I enjoy volunteering at the Manna House Pantry because it gives me a chance to leave home and do something positive for someone else. I enjoy working with other people who are passionate like me about helping others. I take pride in my work at the Manna House Pantry. I am a stocker in the produce section and when the families come in to retrieve their food, I want them to have a warm feeling that the food was stocked on the shelves with care and love. I want the families to have a feeling that someone cares about them. I feel no child should go to bed hungry and when they go to school learning should be on their minds not going to school just to eat. That really breaks my heart. I have learned over the years not to be wasteful, and to use and take only what my family need. I feel all students should have to volunteer in the community before they graduate from high school for several reasons. The first reason is because it is a noble act. The second reason is because it is a humbling experience. The third reason is because it helps a person grow as an individual, it builds character, empathy, sympathy, and may stop people from being so quick to judge a person before they hear their story.