For my spring 2021 semester service, I decided to volunteer with Meals on Wheels which is a part of the Christian Services organization located here in Hattiesburg. Meals on Wheels is a program where volunteers drop off meals to underprivileged and elderly residents of Hattiesburg who usually have no other method of getting the food that they need. I had volunteered with Meals on Wheels before during the fall 2020 semester and decided to lend my expert meal drop-off skills again. I volunteered with Ciarra Shaw and Brittney Clayborn as a group each Tuesday from about 10:30 am to 12 pm just as we did last semester. We also picked up extra routes if the Meals on Wheels coordinator asked us to.

I always love opportunities like this where I can give back to the community in some shape, form, or fashion because it teaches me to be grateful for all the things that I am blessed with. I also enjoyed Meals on Wheels because the program helped me to create so many connections and relationships throughout the city of Hattiesburg. I loved being able to see a resident’s face light up when we arrived with their meals. The residents on our routes were always so sweet and made sure to send us on our way with a “God bless you” and “Have a good day” every time they saw us. It’s easy to forget about those that might not be in the best position in life especially when you’re on a college campus. It’s so easy to start creating selfish habits and only worrying about yourself when faced with the academic and personal challenges of college. Volunteering with Meals on Wheels and Christian Services taught me that no matter what is going on in my life, God put me in a position where I am able to help the people around me, and I need to make sure that I am doing that every chance that I get.

If you or a friend is interested in volunteering with Meals on Wheels, head on over to christianserve.org. Once on the site, click on “Volunteers” and fill out an application describing yourself, your faith, your past service, and when you’re able to volunteer. The coordinator should contact you via email in a few days to set up a time and day for your route that works best with your schedule. I hope you’ll consider dropping off a meal (and a bit of joy) to someone in need.

Blog post author Jasmyne Cleaver is a nursing major. She has completed her third year as a Luckyday Scholar.