At Least Two Hours A Week

I go to Detroit Country Day Middle School, and I just turned 14 last month. Since I started volunteering heavily a year ago, I’ve gotten over 90 hours of service.

You can never do enough service. It takes a lot of people and effort to help the community. If everyone did at least two hours a week, the community’s needs wouldn’t be as big of a problem as they are now.

Most of my volunteer work is making hygiene kits with essential items like toothpaste, soap and conditioner. Sometimes I deliver kits, too. I really like it because it’s going to people who need it.

Recently, when I delivered the kits to a shelter in Pontiac, everyone was so excited. Before we had a chance to take the kits out of the trunk, people were lining up just to get one.

My mom loves giving back to the community and I really want to be like her one day. When I was younger, just watching the smile she put on people’s faces encouraged me.

I also like working at a food canteen, giving food to people in need and putting it in their trunks. It just feels good to hear people saying, “Thank you.”

Usually, I volunteer by myself or with my mom, but at the food canteen, I go with a group of friends to make it go a bit faster.

I’ll tell my friends where it is and bring them. Honestly, it doesn’t take much encouraging for them to do a good thing, I’m friends with some really good people.

Before I start a career, I want to start my own nonprofit to help immigrant families get aid and assistance.

I know some families that don’t know how to get their needs met; either from not having enough information, not speaking the language, or just not having anyone to help them.

Then, I want to be a doctor when I’m older. I hope to continue to give back by helping others survive and get the medicine they need.

Omar H., Franklin