A Life of Service

As a child, I remember going to volunteer at an orphanage with my school and

family. I vividly remember the heat that started to build up in my chest, fired by the jealousy I felt by seeing my mom give another little girl love and attention. I remember thinking “that is what she calls me, not her” when I heard my mom tell her she looked like a beautiful princess and gave her a big hug. But I also remember the sinking feeling in my stomach when my mom realized my reaction, and explained to me that the little girl did not have a mom nor someone to give her unconditional care and affection. 

I also remember Christmas dinner, and setting plates of food aside to then drive around and hand out to families in underserved neighborhoods. I remember the moment I realized that not everyone has the privilege of knowing they will get to eat before bed. 

Maria as a child

Moments like these have been engraved in me. Realizing my privilege at such a young age has led me to believe that it is my moral duty to give back and help build others up. Like an itch that needs to be scratched, I have felt a life of service for others calling me for as long as I can remember. 

However, as I got older and life got busier, I began setting aside service work and would mainly focus on my personal responsibilities, but the itch persisted in the back of my mind. 

As a senior in college studying psychology, I never felt like there was no next step for me, rather I felt overwhelmed with the abundance of options I wanted to explore, not knowing which path to pursue. One day, as I was bouncing from tab to tab on my computer looking at different job listings and researching graduate school programs, I realized that since I left my home in Mexico, I had not done the one thing I felt was my social responsibility: serve others. 

My next step had suddenly become clear – I was going to apply to become an AmeriCorps VISTA. 

In my VISTA position as a Capacity Building Coordinator, I have the opportunity to volunteer full-time by helping build capacity for the Lutheran Social Services (LSS) Food Pantry in Jacksonville, FL. Among my multiple tasks, our weekly Mobile Pantry has a special place in my heart. Our goal is to bring food to underserved communities residing within or in proximity to food deserts, and in addition, each food bag is personalized based on the household’s ethnicity and dietary needs. Many of our clients require halal food, and often they attempt to reject the frozen food bag, and although there may be a language barrier, it fills me with joy to see their faces light up when I explain that the meat is halal. 

As my service year is coming to its final months, I look back to the start and remember all my doubts and worries. I think about how I was not sure I could do it, the imposter syndrome lingering over me no matter what I did, the constant thought of “is this all worth it?”. But through the experiences I have had and the lessons I have learned, I can now say yes, it is worth it. No matter how small an action is, each one adds up. Knowing now that I have had the opportunity to be a part of an organization that is dedicated to help people through hardship, and knowing that I have aided in placing food on so many families’ tables fulfills me more than any other job could.  

Living in such a fast paced world, it is hard to set time aside to do volunteer work. There is always something to do or somewhere to be. But what if I told you that by volunteering you are not just helping others – you are also helping yourself? If you have not noticed by now, I can tell you through personal experience the joy and fulfillment that service brings me. But aside from my personal experience, studies have shown that volunteer work enhances many aspects of well- being, including happiness, life satisfaction, self-esteem, sense of control over life, physical health, and depression (Thoits & Hewitt, 2001). 

Additionally, there are many ways to volunteer through both direct and indirect service. Volunteer work does not have to look a specific way. Taking into account your skills and availability, you can find volunteer opportunities that are compatible with your lifestyle and interests. 

Be the person that gives a child support when they need it most, be the one to feed a family that is struggling to make ends meet, be a part of the community that is building the world you want to live in, and be the difference. 

Become a LSS Volunteer Today