Early on a cold Saturday morning in November, my sisters, mom, and I wake up and
tumble into the car, heading for a church gym. Groggy-eyed and yawning, other girls show up,
all in our red, white, and blue uniforms. To one side of the gym, a long table with fruits,
vegetables, and other miscellaneous items meets the eye. We grab bags and lists and get to work,
placing food items according to the family size. This is the St. Vincent de Paul Christmas food
delivery project that my scouting troop, the American Heritage Girls (AHG), participates in
every year. We pack the bags and label them, load them up in cars, vans, and trucks, and then
teams disperse, carrying the precious cargo to families in need in the community. My family and
a couple friends hop into our van and drive to the first stop. We knock a few times, and a young
woman meets us at the door. We bring the food into her apartment and then stand outside the
door, singing a Christmas carol for her. By the look on her face, she is overwhelmed, but also
very grateful. This is a typical delivery.
My AHG troop has provided many opportunities for me to be very active in service to the
community. Together with my troop, I have delivered food to the poor at both Christmas and
Easter, made baby blankets and created layettes for pregnancy resource centers, put together care
packages for the homeless, and added new bark to a school playground, among other things.
Since fourth grade, this group has shown me the importance of service, its various applications in
the real world, and its powerful impact, both to those I serve and in my heart.
With the more flexible schedule that homeschooling allows, I have been blessed with the
time and opportunity to study music – both viola and piano – from a young age, developing a
beautiful skill to share with my community. For many years, my quintet, A Joyful Noise, and my
other musical ensembles have performed at galas, fundraisers, homeschool events, weddings,
funerals, as well as a variety of church events, providing a lovely atmosphere for the guests. At
Christmastime, we visit multiple retirement homes and share this music with an older audience.
I am so grateful to be able to bring this gift of beauty in service to others.
These experiences have allowed me to witness the impact of service on both others and
myself. The look on the faces of those who receive food and the tears that roll down when
someone is touched by our music show me the importance of my work. Not only have I learned
the value of service and several life skills, but my heart is full from giving my time and talent to
others. I am blessed to have grown up spending my childhood and teen years serving my
community, and I know I will continue to do so.