Helping Pontiac

                                                                                

Volunteering for the Salvation Army was such a great feeling. I wish I did things like this more often in the past but I was always too busy; another day, another excuse. But not anymore. The people in our community need us. When I was volunteering, I wasn't doing anything big but still I knew it was going to help make someones life better. The more we come to help the stronger our community will be. Every city in Michigan effects each other. The residents of Michigan need to start caring about more than just where they live. For most of us Pontiac is just a few minutes away. If we don't start helping to do our part by making Pontiac a better place and help to get Pontiac back to how it used to be, eventually its going to hit us.

 From there it will only spread and if this happens, Michigan is never going to get back on its feet. Its time that people from Michigan stop running away from the problems of our state and cities, its time everyone come together and start rebuilding our cities such as Pontiac. Lets ensure our families futures and as well as our own. You can volunteer to make a difference through so many different organizations and different ways. Don't sit back and ignore the problems of your community. No matter what age you are, you can always help. Volunteer today, only we can make the difference.

Volunteer match links you with all the different volunteer organizations in YOUR community.

Volunteer Match

Old Pontiac, Michigan

Pontiac, MI, we all know it. We know it for what it is now, but does anyone really know what it used to be like? At one point, Pontiac was the most flourishing city in Michigan. Pontiac became a city in 1861 and was set in a prime location. It attracted people from all over such as, professional people including lawyers and doctors. It was not long till Pontiac became the center of industry. Pontiac became the main location of choice for grist and woolen mills and in 1844 with the railroad coming to the downtown area, this only assured the growth of Pontiac for the future.  

 Pontiac was known to have an abundance of natural resources. This led to carriage manufacturing companies which at the turn of the century, led to the automotive industry. General Motors took affect and as the industry grew, Pontiac grew. Of course Pontiac suffered from the 1930's depression just as all the other cities did, however following World War II, it was at the forefront of growth in Oakland County. Pontiac only continued to grow and was as beautiful as ever.

However after the riots of the 1960's, many white people began to move away. With that led to a decrease in businesses. After that, it was a domino effect. People began to leave Pontiac; lawyers, doctors and people in the car industry. Pontiac lost majority of its business and people and soon became very run down. Once Michigan hit an all time low financially in the 90's and 2000's, it only further doomed Pontiac.

Rewards of Volunteering

My experience volunteering at The Salvation Army ended up being more than just a class project. Arriving there on the first day, I realized that life is so much bigger than me and the little community I live in. There are people all around who have been impacted by those who volunteer and in return, they give their lives to others who need it. 

Realizing this, I was inspired to help as much as possible during the following days of our volunteer work. In addition to knowing that I was helping those who need it, I also got to know the people behind the work a little more as well as my classmates. The work went by quickly and so much got done in just a little bit of time because we all worked together. 

The rewards of volunteering of your time and energy are numerous. One of the best rewards is the impact you will have on those around you, most of whom you will never even know. The steps you take giving of yourself start a cycle of giving that will eventually come back around to you. 

This leads me to the next reward of volunteering. This reward is the impact it has on yourself. Not only do you feel great, but what you do for others will be done for you one day. Just knowing that I had helped people who needed it was an amazing feeling. It felt like spring even though it was freezing outside!!!

As students, it is our duty to give back to the community what has been given to us. Volunteering is the perfect way to do this and the benefits are long and lasting. 

What now?

If you've decided that volunteering is right for you, you're probably wondering where you can volunteer and how you can sign up! Now that you're graduating and out looking for jobs in the business world, I'm sure life is getting hectic. You might think you don't have time to volunteer. Now, we volunteered at the Salvation Army in Pontiac, but there are plenty of other places to volunteer as well.

Because the bad economy hasn't just effected Pontiac, it's spread all around Michigan. Even if you live in a nice suburban area, there is a Salvation Army right around the corner, helping people you may not even realize need help. People that have had jobs and lost them, and with it they've lost everything: their homes, their hope, their dignity. You can help them, and you don't have to drive very far to do it.

Here is the Salvation Army website. It's got all the different locations listed, and even a section of the site dedicated to helping volunteers sign up for particular projects. They are even sending money to Japan for the earthquake relief effort. If you honestly do not have the time to volunteer, but you can afford a monetary contribution, there is a place on the site that will allow you to do that as well. However, I know most of us recent college grads cannot afford to monetarily contribute, but let me tell you, a few hours of your time is worth much more than 20 dollars to the people who visit and serve at the Salvation Army. Here is the link to that website: Metro Detroit Salvation Army. As you can see, cities like Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Mt. Clemens, Flint, Port Huron, and many other metro Detroit locations need your help.

Also, have you noticed the billboards "Believe in Detroit" while commuting to school or driving around the Metro Detroit area? Maybe you've seen the commericals. I've discovered their website and realized this is also a great source of volunteer opportunities besides just the Salvation Army. The movement is dedicated to helping Detroit move up out of the poverty stricken mess it's found itself in and become a vibrant city once more. Detroit is perhaps the most affected area by the economy, and if you live in or around Detroit, this may be a perfect opportunity for you. Some of the volunteer opportunities listed on the website are tree planting, mentoring programs, volunteer football coaches, tutors, and just a helping hand to pull weeds and help clean up some of the blighted areas. I understand that many people are not comfortable doing things like tutoring or coaching, but planting a tree or picking up some trash might be just as helpful to someone who lives in that area. I know this won't be for everyone, but it's something to consider. Here is the link: Believe in Detroit.

I think that volunteering, especially now in these tough times, is important. Especially as a college graduate. You have to look for a job in this economy, why not give back and help someone else who's looking or has lost their job? If we want Michigan to get better, and if we want things to pick up and gain steam, we all have to do our part! Whether you choose to volunteer at the Salvation Army, through Believe in Detroit, or any other opportunity such as your local church, soup kitchen, daycare, ect, it's going to make you feel good. You're going to feel empowered, and most importantly of all, you're going to help someone!

So get out there!

What If It Were You?

Imagine a place where the business man is equal to the prostitute, where a homeless man is just as welcome as a child. Imagine a place where no one is turned away and if they are in need, they will receive help. A student who has no money, a mother who has no food for her kids, they can go to a place where food is waiting for them and anything else they may need is provided if at all possible. What if that person was you? How did you get to this point? There are endless circumstances that lead people to where they are in life and when it all comes down it, everyone should have a chance to get back on their feet. If it's a bag of food, a blanket, or just one meal, everyone deserves to be helped.

The Salvation Army is such a place and provides numerous services to help those in need. However, they rely on the volunteers like YOU to distribute help to those in need. Everyone goes through hard times in their lives as well as good times. It's the good times that determine how the bad times will affect you. If you are given the chance to help someone, take it. But don't just wait for chances to come to you, look for them yourself. What you give will be given back to you. 

Laura grew up in a home with an abusive, alcoholic father. In order to protect her family, Laura's mom would take her children to The Salvation Army because that was the one place they knew was safe for them. Laura says she was practically raised there. Her mother would tell her children that they must give back what was given to them and that's exactly what they did. Not only did Laura help when she was little, but she continues to do so today as an administrative assistant for The Salvation Army. 

Everyone is equal in need.  A business graduate is just as much a victim of life as a young mom with no education at all and they are both part of an operating community. A community involves everyone, not just a few people here and there, and for this reason, we all must do our part to help our community as best as possible. No one is above needing help and although you may think you won't need the help of a community organization, the reality is that you very well might.

We all have a duty to give back to our community what has been given to us or what may be given to us in the future. Volunteering of your time and energy is just the beginning of a domino-effect type of reaction that will eventually come back around to you. Even if you never need to go to a shelter to receive help or food, most likely someone you know will have to. No matter the situation, everyone deserves to have the chance to get back on their feet. You would want your chance so give someone else theirs.

Feel good, volunteer!

So now that you know how this economy will impact not only your community, but you as an individual, you may want to know what it's like to volunteer. Well, let me be honest, before I volunteered I did not have a sunny disposition on the matter. Especially because I felt like I was being forced to volunteer by my professor. I felt that it wasn't true volunteering because I wasn't actually voluntarily participating---it was for a class. I thought that cheapened it and began to think of it as slave labor. Haha, melodramatic, I know. But that's how I felt.

I know it's cliche, but I changed my attitude once I began helping. The first day we sorted canned and boxed food for the food pantry. We organized it by type of food, and so on. When we first arrived, the pantry was messy and disorganized. I don't know how they found anything in there! When we were finished it was clean, organized, and inviting. You knew exactly where everything was. Someone could just walk in and grab all their recipe ingredients no sweat! It's hard to explain the feeling I got when I looked at that organized pantry. I felt like I had actually accomplished something. The workers were so happy and grateful with what we had done. It gave me a sort of high; I felt good about not only the deed I had just accomplished, but I felt good about myself. It definitely gave me a self esteem boost!

Now I understand why it's important to volunteer. Not only are you helping other people, you're also helping yourself. By volunteering you're giving back to the community. You're providing people that have very little with something to help them get from one day to the next. A good meal will give them the strength to carry on through their day, and that strength will eventually help them pick themselves up and gain independence and security. And by volunteering, you will be garnering self-esteem in the process. That feel-good high you'll get from volunteering will carry on to other aspects of your life. You can take that positive energy and channel it into creating success for yourself both financially and mentally.