“I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.”

– Albert Schweitzer

My Student Council organized a service opportunity that families could participate in over break. Eighteen families visited Steven’s Table, a soup kitchen in Batavia, New York to volunteer their time and serve the needy and homeless in our community.

After working, we asked volunteers to share their experience in a “service summary.” All of these are posted on a bulletin board in the front of our school in hopes of inspiring others to give of themselves to those less fortunate.

Some of my responses from the experience include:

“I learned to be happy with the things I have.” –3rd grade student

“Our female is luke.” (Our family is lucky) –1st grade student

“I made sandwiches for the men that came into the soup kitchen. I also helped prepare food for one of them to give his friend who needed something to eat.” – Kindergarten student

“I learned that we should give food to the poor more.” – 3rd grade student

“I learned that some people can’t even afford food. I also learned how good it feels to serve others.” – 5th grade student

“My experience was interesting. It was interesting because I saw many people who didn’t have a home. I got to help them by serving them at Steven’s Table.” – 5th grade student

“I learned that other people need food too. I helped make eggs and put food on the trays.” – 1st grade student

“I learned that it feels good to help people without getting paid.” – 5th grade student

“It was absolutely awesome to do this as a family. Before getting the sign up sheet, I never knew that were was a soup kitchen in the area, let alone Batavia, so this made me aware of it. Being there and listening to them talk about homelessness brought even more awareness that we had such a need.” – Mother of a student

“I enjoyed spending time with my family cooking pancakes for the people that came for breakfast. It was shocking to find out that there are people close to home who are homeless and really appreciated us cooking a meal for them.” – Father of a student

“It was such an honor to help people.” – 5th grade student

“I helped my daddy cook pancakes for the people.” – Pre-K student