With the holiday spirit in full swing, everyone’s focus is on the joy and festivities that the season brings. However, it is also important to recognize that along with fun and cheer, the season of giving is a great way to create a positive impact on your community, creating great community service hour opportunities.
Because participating in service projects is a significant part of BSGE’s integrity, many students already have a list of substantial organizations they work with and fun ways they continue to give back to their community. These lists can be generated through being a part of aid-oriented clubs BSGE offers which focus on supporting their communities through service work.
There is an overwhelming amount of support in service clubs BSGE has to offer like the Red Cross and Helping Hands. Being a part of these clubs can be an effective way to get in touch with organizations, food pantries, and banks.
BSGE’s incredible support was shown back in November when a staggering thirty to forty members of Helping Hands joined together at the Astoria food pantry to pack hygiene kits.
The Astoria Food Pantry is a volunteering organization that began in 2020 to support the communal struggles of the COVID-19 epidemic. The pantry focuses on keeping the community well “fed and safe” and is hosting its annual Pieathon and its Astoria food drive just in time for the holiday season.
Sophomore Nikki Eng, a member of the club, helped pack the hygiene kits that were passed out throughout Astoria for civilians in need. Eng felt that the experience was personally rewarding and also had a great time, commenting, “The Astoria Food Pantry is a great community to be a part of.”.
Other organizations BSGE students have worked with and find appreciable are City Harvest, Salvation Army, and Godly Help. City Harvest, a food delivery service that redeems nutritious food for New Yorkers, and Salvation Army, a charitable organization based on donations, are both respected organizations that have many opportunities coming up this holiday season. 10th grader Kelsi Tirado has previously volunteered with the Salvation Army and plans to volunteer on Thanksgiving by donating and handing out food. Tirado described working with the charity as “a very welcoming place” with “many opportunities where you can work.” Constance Choo, another 10th grader, has also volunteered with Godly Help, a charitable church which she found was a very “rewarding and accomplishing experience” and a great way to “learn about others’ lives.”
From working at food banks, and homeless shelters and organizing toy drives, the holidays create meaningful opportunities to give back to your community. 10th grader Emilia Blackburn explains how the holiday season “inspires me to help others in my community who aren’t as fortunate as me.” a fellow 11th grader explains how the season of giving “encourages me to help those in need”. Many of these service opportunities can be completed with your friends and families and can also be incorporated into holiday traditions.
It is important to acknowledge that the holiday season can both be a time to celebrate fun festivities and also take part in giving back to those in need. Creating a difference in one another’s lives is a great way to commemorate the season of giving.
