 |
| The chalkboard that inspired volunteers in the Crothersville Agriculture Classroom |
“Good morning! Today we will be delivering 8.13 TONS of food
to 96 families in the Crothersville community, along with 150 cheer baskets. I
hope we have a wonderful day! – Deven Lemen”
As my teammates and I walk into the warm, Crothersville
agriculture classroom, we read this mindblowing statement written on the
chalkboard. It’s a cold, icy, Saturday morning, but the energy and passion in
Crothersville High School made it feel like the warmest place on the planet. We
had been requested to go to a service project, and all we knew about the event
is that we were delivering food and that there MAY be the opportunity to ride
on a firetruck.
 |
| A photo with our team and Crothersville FFA Officer Team! |
A few of the amazing chapter officers explain that this is
the 28th annual FFA Food and Toy Drive and that we would be
delivering boxes of nonperishable foods, hams, eggs, milk, and fruit to
families in need in the Crothersville community.
As the day goes on, we make a few deliveries, and return
back to school to warm up with some hot chocolate. I had no idea that the next
delivery we would make will change my outlook on life forever.
We pull into the driveway of a house and we begin to load
the boxes of food and toys into the back of a car, as directed by the woman on
the porch and the man helping us load. The delivery seemed so normal, until I
go to deliver the letter to the woman on the porch. I reach out to shake her
hand and as I look into her face, I see tears welling up in her eyes.
Immediately I join her on the porch and give her a hug. In this moment there
was no one else in the world, just this woman and I. She sobs and thanks me,
saying I’m a blessing, but as I pull
away from the hug with tears welling in my eyes, I realize that she is the true blessing.
She is practically a stranger to me, but little does she
know she has inspired me to serve selflessly each and every day of my life. As
I walk away crying, the firefighter looks at me and says “this is why we’re in
it.”
I later found out that this family had recently experienced
a loss only a week before, and I honestly could not believe that I had the
honor to play such a small part in making this family’s Christmas just a little
brighter.
This feeling of realizing “why you’re in it” has made me
realize that this year of service to Indiana FFA is nothing compared to what I
can give in my entire life, the desire and passion to serve that I have left in
me. Thank you Crothersville FFA chapter for giving me the opportunity to serve,
and to impact someone’s life in such a small way.
Inspired to serve,
Jessica Mars
2016-2017 Indiana FFA State President
No comments:
Post a Comment