The Blessing Center has been a great place to volunteer. I am seeing the hope and help that they bring to people who are struggling, but also the impact The Blessing Center has on volunteers. The Blessing Center is a small community within a larger community of Redlands that helps people who are in need, in ways I did not think were possible. Seeing how volunteers who were once helped by the Blessing Center are giving back, shows the impact that this small community has had. People who volunteer at The Blessing Center are hopeful and dedicated to helping others in any way that they can. It is an organization that has stood in Redlands for over 14 years and continues to follow its values every day of feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and helping those who are hurt.
Within The Blessing Center there are food and clothing distribution centers and resource centers available for their clients. Being able to volunteer at this site has shown me the value of volunteering. While working in the food distribution center you are able to see the clients and sometimes interact with them. I was fortunate enough to be able to see and interact with the clients while giving them food. It was very eye opening to see how many people just in Redlands were in need of help. They picked up their boxes of non-perishable food and then came to us so we could give them the fruit/vegetable bags. Many of the people kept saying “God Bless You” as they walked by showing just how grateful they truly were.
The distribution centers of The Blessing Center are opened every Tuesday and Saturday for clients. After getting their food, clients are able to come back in and take any clothing if needed. I have only been able to volunteer on Saturdays so I am hoping I can go during the week to volunteer and observe some of the other resources and centers that the Blessing Center offers. They have class to teach people how to operate computers, resource centers to help people find jobs, clinics for people in need of shots or other medical attention, dentistry, H.O.P.E centers for people affected by HIV/aids, and various programs for children.
My favorite part about volunteering at the Blessing Center is the sense of community that surrounds you while you are there. Every Saturday Pastor Craig starts off the day with a prayer circle. He blesses the food and clothing that they have received throughout the week and blesses all the volunteers. He thanks God for all the opportunities he has given The Blessing Center and how grateful he is for it being able to help so many people. He then opens up the circle for anyone else who would like a say a few words. This prayer circle always makes me feel like I chose the right place for my internship because of the sense of community and how grateful, passionate, and hopeful everyone is.