After volunteering at this religiously affiliated non-profit organization for a little over twenty hours now I have learned a lot about the organization and its mission. This organization receives food and clothing donations to give out to clients who cannot afford these amenities. The clients can come in to receive these services up to three times per month. They also provide medical services, dental services, and job trainings. This organization requires hard work and dedication in order to keep it running. With this hard work and dedication they are constantly restoring hope in the community by giving them benefits.

With the small community of volunteers at my internship, there are opportunities to really get to know the other volunteers. There are no criteria to follow to volunteer at this religiously affiliated organization, so there is a broad spectrum with all types of people volunteering. One general theme that I have caught onto is that everyone volunteering here believes in God and discusses their beliefs and how they came about them. While working with other volunteers we have the chance to interact and to get to know each other better. The volunteers of this organization are what make this organization function. While the jobs vary the exposure to clients varies as well. Depending what station you are working at you will get more or less exposure with the clients. While this organization is attempting to operate as smooth and efficient as possible, it lacks having relationships with its clients.

This organization claims to be accepting of all Christian beliefs and that they do not only represent one church. Their hope is to serve as a combination of churches and beliefs systems so that everyone can express themselves in one place together. Everyone is coming together, no matter from what background, for the common cause of serving others. It is apparent to me that this non-profit center has given hope not only to the clients but to the volunteers too, who sometimes were or are clients themselves.

The volunteers are accepting and non-judgmental of anyone that comes to receive services and they do not put the blame on them. This is a reflection on this organization that they understand that these situations are not typically the individuals fault. However, they are not doing anything to challenge the structural issues that are causing hunger. While this organization is doing a lot of work it is on a very small scale.

My volunteer work at this organization has given me an in into how the organization functions and how it effects lives positively. From what I have seen they are helping families in need by carrying out their mission. I have volunteered enough to understand how this organization operates and who it operates with, including other volunteers and the people receiving services. I feel that with my volunteering at this ministry I have not only observed the organization but I have also assisted them. While there are always ways to improve this organization’s services, they are working efficiently together to carry out their mission.