Whether it be through campus clean-ups, toy drives or group volunteering events, the average student volunteer experience consists of event hours collected through activities around campus or sponsored by clubs. Some students, however, get their hours through organizations that are not considered typical.
Benton House
Junior Alton Ashford began his volunteer hours in his sophomore year of high school after his mother recommended him a place to start. He started as a dishwasher at Benton House, a living facility for the elderly, but has recently organized group events for residents. Some events he has hosted include an ice cream social, bingo nights, and group walks.
“It’s a lot of moving around because I have to work with people in the dining room and the common room to set up, host, and clean. It’s overwhelming,” Ashford said.
Ashford has completed 49 hours at Benton House, volunteering three to eight hours a week. Although he enjoys working with the elderly, there are times when things get messy.
“There was this one time where we were very busy. The kitchen was short on [staff], so I had work in the kitchen and commons area at the same time,” Ashford said. “ I was trying to do my work, but one resident kept asking to get his drink remade because there was either too much ice or too little. It was stressful.”
Despite encountering moments like these, Ashford plans to continue volunteering at Benton House after he finishes his hours.
“I’ve learned that you should always keep your cool and be patient with the elderly. Sometimes, they can be stubborn, but I’m there to help them, so that’s what I do,” Ashford said.
Orlando Regional Medical Center
For senior Jenna Lopez, her motivations for choosing where to volunteer were focused on a potential career path. Lopez, although not currently volunteering, finished her hours at Orlando Regional Medical Center. She previously volunteered at her church and a pet shelter in Sanford but decided to finish her hours at the medical center since she wanted to gain experience in the medical field.
“I hope to have a career in the medical field, and I figured [volunteering] here would give me some good exposure to what I may encounter when I am older,” Lopez said.
The hospital only allowed Lopez to volunteer four hours per week. She worked with neurologists and nurses during her shifts and was usually in front of the neurological ward, taking calls from patients and redirecting calls from other hospital departments.
“Volunteering there was a great way to expose me to the field I was interested in while also being able to help my community,” Lopez said.
Tuskawilla Youth Girls Lacrosse
Sophomore Chloe Miller volunteers as a coach at Tuskawilla Youth Girls Lacrosse during the girls lacrosse season. Miller volunteers four to seven hours a week and has completed around 90 hours working with the team. When she was younger, Miller played for the team, so volunteering as a coach for them was a no-brainer.
Typically, Miller starts her volunteering hours by helping set up goals and cones. During the practice, she assists with drills and clears up any questions the girls have. Miller finishes up by cleaning up. She attends most practices and games, training and celebrating with the team.
“There was a picnic dinner, where we scrimmaged before, and then everyone got awards at the end. After the awards, there was music and everyone was just having a good time,” Miller said. “It showed how [Tuskawilla Youth Girls Lacrosse] is more than just a team, it’s a family.”
Miller will continue volunteering after her hours are completed and looks forward to continuing to work with the lacrosse team during their next season.
Oviedo Farmers Market
Junior Emma Johnson started her hours at Oviedo Farmers Market last summer. She helps the local vendors set up booths, start their sales for the day, unload the products, and create displays. Sometimes, Johnson takes the afternoon shift to help clean up the stations. Although she has worked with jewelry and art vendors before, she often works with local bakers and farmers.
“I chose to volunteer at the farmers market because I wanted to find a way to help the local businesses. I wasn’t very interested in volunteering for big organizations,” Johnson said.
When Johnson first started volunteering, she worked with a local baker and helped unload the truck. She realized a certain box was too heavy but tried to unload it herself. Johnson took a misstep and dropped the box.
“The box had metal pans to display the pastry, so nothing was broken during the fall,” Johnson said. “I’ve learned that you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help. You are there to help the vendors, so it is better to ask for help before things go south.”
She plans to continue her hours at the Oviedo Market over the summer, working with more local artisans and jewelers.
There are many places available for students to get their volunteering hours, students just need to find what place fits best for them.
“[Volunteering] is actually fun and easy as long as you can find a place you enjoy volunteering at,” Ashford said.
