Serving is about giving, but it’s almost impossible to serve without receiving, too. I give and receive every time I volunteer with children with Serve the City at Ripple. Kids are really easy to bond with, even if you don’t speak the same language as they do. For them, verbal communication is not nearly as important as time and attention, so in the summer, we dance, draw with sidewalk chalk, play hopscotch, and run around in the grass. We stay outside to soak up as much sun as possible. When the days are short and the nights are cold, we take shelter inside and play games, make crafts, paint nails, and draw. Tonight, we had a special treat: homemade blue play dough.
Each time I volunteer, my French improves little by little (it’s great practice!), and I’m able to communicate better verbally. However, one of my favorite things about volunteering is the universal language of a smile. I love to see kids smile when volunteers walk into the room. Sometimes they even run to give us hugs. The kids are always ready to have fun, and even after a long day, their happy faces make me ready to have fun too.
Interested in serving with us? Here you learn more about our projects.
