Volunteer Hours

I was watching so much hurricane coverage on television that I had had enough. I grabbed my bag and I was on my way. I just couldn't sit and do nothing anymore.

I have volunteered down at the Reliant Center for the past four days. Man, the days you spend there will really change your perspective on life and people and circumstances.

Unfortunately, I'm not talking about changes for the better or appreciating the people you have in your life.

My volunteer experience began with cot assembly. No evacuees were there so there were just a bunch of us putting the cots together, about 10 thousand of those things. This was slightly rewarding but I knew I had to do more.

The evacuees were patient with us and everyone was noticeably tired and somber as was expected in this type of situation.

On my fourth day I was back in the Reliant Center (the days between I was in the Astrodome). There is a noticeable change. Of course now the people are clean, and have just a little more energy. I was working in the food service line. First of all they can eat all day and as much as they want. Secondly, a lot of them are very nice and cordial and you can tell they appreciate what we are doing for them but there are a handful of people that just... ugh.

Why can't they put the plates in the trash can?
Why there are opened full cans of soda left everywhere?
Why did I see one kid come to the table, grab 3 bags of chips and then go straight to the trashcan and throw them away?
Why did a young man flick cookies across a table at me for me to toss in the trash bag I had in my hand?

Let me tell y'all, I was in prayer the whole time because nothing but the Holy Ghost kept me. lol

I know that this has been a terrible situation, unthinkable for most of us, but for real...

We can't expect them to do better if we allow them to degenerate during this stressful time. I expect others to hold me to a high standard, as I hold myself to an even higher one... so that I am never without a goal or expectations.