Service Learning Experience Reflection Paper
Service Learning Experience Reflection
Christians Reaching Out for Social Services (CROSS) is a nonprofit organization supporting the communities of Maple Grove, Rodgers, Osseo, Champlin (west), Corcoran, and Dayton, Minnesota. Since CROSS was established in 1977, they have been supporting low income families and individuals by providing grocery service, meal delivery, clothing, and social services support (“Welcome to CROSS,” 2017). Over the period of three days, February 8th, 10th, and 12th, I spent 10 hours volunteering at CROSS.
Community Need
When thinking of the population in need, it is often assumed more help is needed in large cities, like Minneapolis and St. Paul. Although help is needed in these cities, it is important to remember …show more content…
Going into this experience I was overwhelmed with the number of tasks I had to complete. I thought of this requirement as just one more assignment on my list. I did not realize just how important this task was. A nurse’s responsibility is to care for and about others. The most important lesson this experience taught me was the importance of caring. Starting nursing school, I narrowed my focus to what I needed to accomplish in order to succeed over the next three semesters. In this process, I started to say “no” to my friends and family too often. After observing the clients and their families shop, I realized that school is important to achieve financial stability and reach my career goals, but it is also important to care for the people in my life. I learned that I need to start managing my time better, making time for school and my friends and family.
Community Lessons Learned
Starting this experience, I was unaware of how significantly this resource was needed in the community. I learned there is a great deal of families located in these areas that would not be able to survive without CROSS. A study published in the American Journal of Public Health, reported there is a significant correlation between food and material hardships and physical and mental health (Yoo, Slack, & Holl, 2009, p. 833). In order to prevent health issues for low-income families in these communities, it is essential CROSS continues their services.
Christians Reaching Out for Social Services (CROSS) is a nonprofit organization supporting the communities of Maple Grove, Rodgers, Osseo, Champlin (west), Corcoran, and Dayton, Minnesota. Since CROSS was established in 1977, they have been supporting low income families and individuals by providing grocery service, meal delivery, clothing, and social services support (“Welcome to CROSS,” 2017). Over the period of three days, February 8th, 10th, and 12th, I spent 10 hours volunteering at CROSS.
Community Need
When thinking of the population in need, it is often assumed more help is needed in large cities, like Minneapolis and St. Paul. Although help is needed in these cities, it is important to remember …show more content…
Going into this experience I was overwhelmed with the number of tasks I had to complete. I thought of this requirement as just one more assignment on my list. I did not realize just how important this task was. A nurse’s responsibility is to care for and about others. The most important lesson this experience taught me was the importance of caring. Starting nursing school, I narrowed my focus to what I needed to accomplish in order to succeed over the next three semesters. In this process, I started to say “no” to my friends and family too often. After observing the clients and their families shop, I realized that school is important to achieve financial stability and reach my career goals, but it is also important to care for the people in my life. I learned that I need to start managing my time better, making time for school and my friends and family.
Community Lessons Learned
Starting this experience, I was unaware of how significantly this resource was needed in the community. I learned there is a great deal of families located in these areas that would not be able to survive without CROSS. A study published in the American Journal of Public Health, reported there is a significant correlation between food and material hardships and physical and mental health (Yoo, Slack, & Holl, 2009, p. 833). In order to prevent health issues for low-income families in these communities, it is essential CROSS continues their services.