MGT -410 Service Project Experience

MGT-410

ServiceProjectExperience

MGT-410

Overtheyears,Ihavedoneseveraldifferenttypesofvolunteering.Ihavebeendoing volunteerworkoffandonasachild.MymomwasaschoolteacherandwouldtaketheJustSay NotoDrugsclubtothelocalhomelesssheltersandnursinghomestohelp.Wepreparedand servedmealsatthehomelessshelters.Wevisitedwithandsangtoelderlyresidentsinthelow- incomenursinghomes.BackthenIlearnedthevalueofhelpingothers,andthebenefitoffeeling satisfactioninknowingyoumadesomeone’sday.AsanadultIhavevolunteeredinRehab centersandheldfoodandtoiletrydrivesforthehomeless.Oneofmylongerexperiencesin volunteeringwasfortheVegetarianResourceGroupinMaryland.Iansweredalocalonlineadto volunteerfortheminitiallyforafewdays.Ivisitedtheofficeandsawthatitwassmallandhad verydatedcomputersandtechnology.Thestaffwastremendouslygraciousandinformative.Theyworkedinofficeswithnowindows,andallwerevolunteers.Theyhadnocomplaintsabout theircomputersorhowsloweverythingwas.Iwasinspiredonhowupbeatandfriendly everyonewas,despitethelackofconsistentlyworkingcomputersandreliableinternet.Myjob wastoresearchvegetarianandveganrestaurantsfortheironlineveggiefooddirectory.Atthe timeIwasnotveganorvegetarian,butIknewhowimportantitwasnotonlyforourhealth,but theenvironmenttocutbackonoreliminatemeatfromourdiets.Althougheveryonecannot eliminatemeat,weoverconsumeitwhichisevidentbyexcessmethanegasandpollution.We hearaboutitinpublicserviceannouncements.Italsocancauseseveraldifferenttypesofhealth issueswhenconsumedinexcess,andcertaintypesofmeatcausehavoconourdigestivesystem.

Dothoseservegrowaspersons?Aftermyfirstdayofvolunteering,IwasaskedtobetheEditoroftheironlinenewspaper.Althoughitwasavolunteerrole,Iwasabitafraid,asIdidnotthinkIhadenoughskillsor experiencetoservethisrole.Iwasn’tevenafullvegetariananddidnotthinkIhadenough informationtoprovidetoothersaswell.ThemanandwifewhoownedtheVegetarianResource GroupassuredmethatIwouldbegreatandmebeinganewcomercouldaddanewperspective forothers.Therearemanypeoplewhowereinterestedinorcuriousaboutweaningawayfromor eliminatingmeatand/oranimalproductsfromtheirdiet.Bymyselfbeinginthesamepositionas thoseindividuals,Iwasabletogivethemmyperspectiveandmyjourneyaswell.Theywould becomehealthierandfeellessconstrainedtohavingtoeatacertainwaytofeelsatisfied.They couldeatdeliciousfoodandstillfeelsatisfied.Theywouldalsobehelpingtosavethe environment.

Hereareafewlinkstomypastworks:

https://www.vrg.org/vrgnews/2015april.php

https://www.vrg.org/vrgnews/2016december.php

https://www.vrg.org/vrgnews/2017january.php

Dothey,whilebeingserved,becomehealthier,wiser,freer,moreautonomous, morelikelythemselvestobecomeservants?Sincethenewcomerscouldrelatetome,theyweremoreapttolistentomyjourneyandmore acceptingofmytipsandstrategiesthansomeonewhowasafull-blownlong-termvegan.One ofthegoalsoftheresourcegroupweretohelptoconvertomnivoresintoherbivores.We providedrecipes,informationforplacestodineoutwithvegetarian/veganmenus,information aboutseminarsandfestivals,andevennutritioninformationfromcertifiedclinicians.Readers

canlearnhowtocooktheirownveggiemeals,findtheirownrestaurants,andeventaketheir friendsandlovedones.Theycanspreadthisinformationwhichinturnwouldmakethem becomeservantsaswell.Myyoungersisternowknowssomanyveganrecipescouldprobably startherownveggiefoodtruck.And,whatistheeffectontheleastprivilegedinsociety?Willtheybenefitoratleastnot befurtherdeprived." Traditionally,ithasbeenchallengingtoeataveggiedietbecausesomuchoftheveggie/vegan foodsthattastegoodwereonlyfoundincertainsupermarketslikeWholeFoods.Peoplewho didn’thaveasmuchmoneycouldnotaffordtoeatthistypeofdietandstillconsumeenough sustainablecalories.TheVegetarianResourceGroupsharesseveraldifferentcost-effectiveways toeataveggieormeatlessdietforthosewhodonothavealot.TheVegetarianResourceGrouphashelddrivesandprograms,helpshealthprofessionals,food services,andbusinesseducatorssince1982.Theinformationprovidedbenefitsthehealthofall individualsandaidsinmakinghealthierfoodmoreaccessibleinaffordablesettings(vrg,

2020).

Resource

shttps://www.vrg.org/blog/donate/