I'm including this particular interview about community service on the blog to reach a larger audience. I would like to receive feedback for revisions and improvement.
What does community service mean to you?
Family Member 1: Since we have done most of our community service through our local church, community service means helping others that might not be able to help themselves. It means giving someone a hand - up and helping them spiritually as well as physically.
Family Member 2: I think community service means to help someone in need, just being there for someone and seeing them through their difficult times.
What types of community service have you participated in throughout your lifetime?
Family Member 1: We were foster parents to a teenager in need. We opened our home and hearts to a very hurt and lonely young lady. As a side note, we decided not to take money from the state for foster care. Although she had a case worker who came to visit from time to time, it helped us not to have the government funds involved. We provided her with her last two years in high school through our Christian school where I taught. She graduated with honors and is now raising a family of her own.
Our family helped build the Central Florida Children’s Home, Orlando, FL. We were also house parents for the Children’s Home for several years. During that time we helped raise money by holding charity events, including an annual bike-a-thinned. We also cared for many children in our own home.
I have volunteered as a tutor. I have volunteered at a retirement home. I have taken my students to sing and visit at a retirement center during the holidays. My own children went to our local retirement home each week to visit and play games with the residents.
I volunteered my time and talents helping many local charities with brochures, newsletters and fund-raising pleas.
I volunteered at our local shelter and veterinarian to foster dogs and cats. We also are a family who rescues animals. Family Member 2: I helped to secure pledges and monies for the Central Florida Children’s Home. I also helped put the roof up, solicited volunteers and local merchants to put in the floors, carpeting and appliances. I worked closely with the Pioneers (service club) of Southern Bell in Orlando to secure all the beds and bedding for the children. I also worked with the service organization with Sun Bank in Orlando to raise money for the Children’s Home.
I organized a large sale to raise money for the Children’s Home by visiting local businesses and securing donations. I also secured sponsors, solicited donations of food and drink and helped organize our annual bike-a-thinned for the Children’s Home.
What types of community service projects do you think would be beneficial for your family to get involved in?
Family Member 1: Number one, we believe in faith-based services. Any project that the church or missions is involved in would interest our family. We also would be involved with anything in the area of animal rescue.
Family Member 2: We look for projects that are faith-based. We also like to stay involved in animal rights and rescue.
What are some ways you can encourage community service in your home?
Family Member 1: If your children are taught to care for others they seem to have a natural affinity to help. If they are taught to love animals, they just naturally gravitate towards any service that helps animals.
Family Member 2: We like to encourage giving by giving ourselves. We try to help our family members or friends who are going on mission trips by securing needed items, providing financial assistance when we are able and helping them to do the best that they can in a difficult situation.
What are three things you found interesting about the responses you received in you interviews?
1. I know my grandparent were involved with the Central Florida Children Home, but I didn’t realize how much they had accomplished.
2. Also the amount of people they have helped throughout their life.
3. I wasn’t very sunrise that they raised so many children.
What are two things you family plans to do immediately to get involved in community service or service learning?
1. The head of Cat’s Angles lives next door and we always donate food and supplies.
2. We also support our aunts and uncles mission trips to Haiti.
3. My Aunt is an Officer In delegate of the Republican Party, and we participate in local events.
What is one positive effect of being involved in community service as a family?
1. We were all involved in the Children Home. Personally, I believe it makes you more of a responsible and caring family in the long run. Why do you think service learning is important to young adults in today’s world?
Family Member 1: I believe service to others helps take the focus away from the young adult. Service stops them from thinking of only “me”. Service helps them to recognize the blessings they have and also makes them willing to share their time and talents to help others.
Family Member 2: In this society now, self is the most important factor. Volunteering, helping someone else, giving of your time and money all helps to round out a successful caring individual. Our children are very mindful of others because they personally experienced helping and being with the Children’s Home children. They were their friends and their classmates. They understood what they were going through. They wanted to help. I think it has made them very caring adults.
