Inspiring Children by Kellee

Inspiring Children by Kellee - January 2017 Scholarship Essay

“Can we get some more pumpkin pie please?” The query was heard over the din of other voices in the crowded room, and I rushed to get the child another piece of pumpkin pie, after checking with her mom to be sure it was okay. I was volunteering at a local shelter’s Thanksgiving dinner for needy children and their families, and was working hard to make sure everyone had what they wanted. I helped pass out food, clear plates when the families were finished, and helped clean the kitchen and gym where they were eating. My team and I put away tables and chairs and swept the floor, making sure that everything was clean before we left. As part of the high school swim team, we were required to volunteer at a local not-for-profit, but I enjoyed it when we went. I truly enjoyed helping others, and looked forward to our trips to the shelter.
I also volunteered at that shelter a few times as part of National Honor Society through my high school, and enjoyed working with the kids. They each had something unique to bring to the interactions I had with them, and I was inspired to help the children as much as I could while I was volunteering with them. I made paper snowmen with them, and played with them. I also supervised them while they played tag or indoor basketball in the gym. Those kids were not as fortunate as I was when I was their age, and I was inspired to try to help them as much as possible. My high school had a toy drive through National Honor Society for the children at the shelter. We were all given a slip of paper with a child’s name, their interests, and toys they liked. We bought gifts for the children and wrapped them, and then a few people delivered them to the shelter. The children were happy to receive the gifts, and we were happy to be able to give them some Christmas presents that their parents may not have been able to afford.
Volunteering at the shelter with the kids helped put into perspective how fortunate I really was when I was growing up, and I am very happy that I was able to help them out when I was there. I hope to be able to continue volunteering my time to help less fortunate children as I go through college, and into my career after college.