Before addressing the topic of community service, I had only brief contact with community service. I had visited an Orang Asli village and an orphanage with my church, but these were one-off events. On these visits we brought with us food and gifts to distribute. At another event, my church helped remove loan shark stickers from signs. However, I had not experienced what it was like to volunteer for an extended period of time. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay My team had originally planned to volunteer at the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), but the eight-hour training requirement meant we had to reconsider. Another orphanage rejected our request to volunteer because the places were full. This brought us to the organization where we completed our hours: Jumble Station. The founder, Mary Anne, immediately welcomed us as volunteers. Jumble Station is an organization that helps single parents. They are unique compared to other charities in that they help single fathers and also give help to everyone who needs it, regardless of race or religion. Their modus operandi is unique in that they do not primarily ask for monetary donations, although they are very welcome. They collect and resell donated items to raise funds. This can be summed up in one sentence: “We take everything except plants, pets and your parents!” If single parents need certain items like backpacks, clothes or kitchen utensils, for example, Jumble Station provides them for free. The money raised from the sale of other items will be used, for example, to help pay back rent, buy groceries or school supplies. A very important part of Jumble Station's philosophy is to help people help themselves. First, they must deserve the help; they must be single parents directly raising their children, or even grandchildren. Single parents will be interviewed to check whether they really need help. Secondly, Jumble Station asks them what their needs are and helps them with basic things, such as shelter, food and clothing. Jumble Station will correspond directly with the landlord and pay back rent to ensure the single parent is not kicked out of the home. Jumble Station also brings groceries and clothing to single parents. Third, Jumble Station helps the single parent earn an income. Jumble Station has single parents who work for her and she sometimes helps the single parent set up shop and sell donated items. The main place where my group spent most of their time volunteering was the new Jumble Station shop in Jaya 1 in PJ. The first day we went there not really knowing what to expect. Mary Anne welcomed us and explained what Jumble Station was all about. He regaled us with stories of people Jumble Station had helped and their different responses; some turned their lives around, while others took advantage of Jumble Station until aid was cut. While we were in Jaya 1, we spent our time doing 'advertising', 'organisation', 'pricing', 'collection' and 'supervision''. In all honesty, the work was mostly very light and relaxed. Normally when you think of community service, you might think of labor-intensive jobs like cleaning or recycling. My group hardly broke a sweat in ninety-five percent of the"..
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