The student volunteered at a non-profit that helps the homeless and learned about food insecurity and poverty. They realized many stereotypes about homelessness were untrue and that many struggle due to low wages and high costs of living. The student spoke to a homeless woman who said she was tired of carrying her belongings and sleeping on benches, unable to get a job or income. This experience made the student appreciate what they have and feel motivated to help others in need through community service.

1. Kelly McCoy
Non-Profit Rotation Reflection
I learned a lot this past week during the non-profit rotation. It really opened my eyes to issues
like hunger and food insecurity. I was aware of these problems before my volunteer work this past
week, but I guess it takes seeing the problem first hand to really feel strongly about doing your part to
help the situation and possibly find a solution. I had more pre-conceived notions about these issues than
I was even aware of. I was used to seeing the homeless while downtown in Providence and on the
streets of Boston since I was a young child. I used to think that the majority of homeless people were
without a home because of drug or alcohol related habits. I realized that for a lot of people without
homes, this is not the case. A lot of these people are hardworking, functioning members of society that
have too many mouths to feed on minimal income, or just have trouble making ends meet.
While smoking a cigarette out back when we worked at the Amos House, there was an older
lady standing outside not far from the door I came out of. She was yelling because someone had come
through the parking lot and ran over one of her bags. I felt sympathy for her. I couldn’t even imagine
having to carry around two bags at all time that held every last of her personal possessions. She looked
like she was in her middle ages, and from the sound of it (because after I had acknowledged her
complaining, she began to tell me some of her life story) she has had a hard life. She didn’t appear to
have any drug problem or seem to be an alcoholic; I think life has just been hard for her. There was one
statement she had said that I just couldn’t get out of my mind after leaving the Amos House. She said,
“I’m sick of carrying around my stuff and sleeping on park benches. What do they want me to do? I’m a
good person and life won’t give me a break. I’m sick of it. No one will give me a job. How can I live with
no income?” After finding her a new bag for her things, she thanked me for being so nice, wished me a
merry Christmas and said God bless you.

2. I went back inside feeling almost guilty. I thought of all the times I have been stressed out and
thought, why can’t I ever get a break? I have never known a hard life by any means. I have always had a
home to go to with a hot meal on the table with a loving family. I couldn’t imagine not having any of
those things, never mind not having any of them. I’ve always appreciated everything I have, but after
that experience, I appreciated it much more, and now I feel like since I am so fortunate, I should be
helping people like this. It made me want to do more community service on my own time, and try to
make a difference in people’s lives that could really use the help. Being in this rotation really made me
think of the saying, “if you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.” It’s true. A few
dollars donated or a few hours spent trying to make a difference is better than ignoring it because it’s
not your problem. If everyone was to have that mentality, I think the world would, indeed, be a better
place. I don’t want to be part of the problem. I want to help make a difference. There are so many
hard-working families out there struggling to feed their children and still working 40 hours a week. The
cost of living is too high, and the minimum wage is too low. Government aid is vital to the survival of
people who need their help, and I think they should be doing more to help solve these problems. Most
of these unfortunate people deserve life to give them a break.