While we embrace the holiday spirit, we wanted to shine a light on our 2023-24 students who are giving back to their community through volunteering. Volunteering provides them a chance to learn more about American culture, build friendships, and develop a sense of empathy and social responsibility. Our students loved baking cookies for veterans, painting ornaments for children, and distributing food and gifts to families in need.
Emily says, “I chose to volunteer for Sweets on the Street in honor of my host dad, who is a retired military veteran. The experience was fun because I got to meet my host mom’s cousin and meet other people while taking care of the homeless. What it meant to me was that I was able to put a smile on someone’s face who is less fortunate.”
Her host mom, Jodi, adds, “For me, it was giving back to the homeless veterans who have served time in the military and it is the first year for Sweets on the Streets. I was able to spend time with my cousin as well. Everyone worked hard on putting together over 100 bags and getting the donations.”
Francesca says, “My International Coordinator, Brittani, gave us the opportunity to try volunteering at a food pantry with other students and I really liked it! I decided to volunteer again because it’s a way to spend my free time helping people, especially before the holidays. I loved this experience. I went there with another exchange student and her host mom. I worked with the food, and as soon as cars arrived in the parking lot, we filled their back seats with a lot of food (bread, meat, pastries, etc.) Then, they went to pick up gifts for their kids. The part that I loved the most was watching all the cars leave full of gifts and food where they couldn’t even close their doors!”
Melina from France adds, “I found out about Caring Bridge’s “Love Unwrapped” and I really liked the idea of being able to give gifts for Christmas to families in need. It was quite emotional, both for the people who needed help and for us volunteers. To be able to help around 200 families at Christmas is a wonderful gift that will remain engraved in your memory.”
Patricia says, “I love working with people and I thought this was the best opportunity to make someone’s day better! All evening I saw new faces and I realized how helpful some effort can be for some people, it made me feel enthusiastic when I saw the children grinning ear to ear!”
Are you interested in making a difference in a student’s life? We are looking for American host families to welcome a student for the upcoming 2024-25 school year! Check out the profiles of our wonderful students! New student profiles go online every Thursday!
