St Francis Center Experience

At some point in their life, everyone has lended a hand. Whether it's picking up a pencil or helping someone study, each and every person has some form of familiarity with, "lending a hand." This is one of the most important skills in life. A simple act of kindness can make someone's day. It can turn their frown upside down. One impactful way that I have lended my hand is the Saint Francis Center. Service to others and learning to lend a hand to those in need are some of the most influential aspects of my life. Located in Downtown Los Angeles, the Saint Francis Center is devoted to offering food and care to the local homeless population. In October, it was my turn to serve, my turn to help others. Driving down, I was scared, nervous, but excited.
I had no clue what was in store for me. The air was cold and filled with sounds from the city; honk honk, beep beep. As the car turned the corner, I could see the building. The mural on the wall was a colorful as a box of crayons. Lines of people went down the block. It was present that the clients were filled with a sense of joy. After a cold night on the streets, they were eager to be let inside. Carrying sandwiches we made the day before, I proceeded inside. Once there, I, along with my peers, got the run down of how the morning would go. The process of serving breakfast was planned as if it were a football play. It was clear, well thought out, and well practiced. Each volunteer was assigned to one table of six guests. We set up six settings and six meals. The meal consisted of a fruit, hot dish, and baked good. The first group of clients were brought in to dine. Once three people leave, the volunteer needs to clean up and set up for three new guests. Once that was done, you would then tell the greeter that your table was ready for three new people. This would continue until there were no more people were waiting outside. Then, we cleaned up and were on with the rest of our day. The serving process was rewarding and enjoyable. As well as serving, I was also given the opportunity to talk and get to know the clients. It takes some getting used to. Not everyone that passes through is mentally stable. Some people wish to keep their distance while others could chat for hours. One man came to eat at my table. He seemed content, just happy to be alive. It was apparent that the food present to him filled him with a tremendous sense of joy. This man was eager to talk to someone, like he had so much to share but no one to share it with. Talking to him, I noticed how interested he was in me and my life. This was surprising. Why would some homeless man all of the sudden want to know so much about me? We talked for a few minutes, discussing things like MJS, Academic Decathlon, and what my sweatshirt stood for. At the end of his meal, the man came up to me and asked something very powerful, something that really stuck with me "After being here today, am I not just as much human as everyone else?" This experience was very rewarding and impactful.
I learned many things about myself and the world around me. One major thing I learned serving breakfast to the homeless was how important it is to give back to the less fortunate. Something as simple as saying hello or handing them a napkin can put the biggest smile on someones face and make their day. Giving back should not be such a burden on people. Our generation today complains and complains. We think we have it so bad because we can't do things like have a logo on our jackets, but when you think about it, at least we have jackets. From this experience. I learned that giving back to others needs to be made a priority in my life. I realized how much I value community service and how important it is to me. Equally important, I learned the importance of faith. For some of these people, faith is all that they have. God is the only person they have to fall back on. For someone who lives on the streets without a home or a family, faith and prayer can mean the world to them. Another important thing that I learned about myself is how good helping others makes me feel. To know that I made a difference in the world and helped someone get through their day, as rough as it was, fills me with a sense of gratitude. This experience was a true eye-opener for
me. Service to others and giving back is an important part of society. Events big or small can impact someone's life. For me, this event was serving breakfast at the Saint Francis Center. This event had an influence on me and how I look at the world. I learned many things from this such as the importance of faith and the positivity in service to others. The way I lent my hand helped others in need. Serving breakfast to the homeless was an important moment in my life where I lent my hand, and in return, was given knowledge about myself and the world around me.