Reflective Essay: A Day At The Salvation Army

Slavery plays an important role in American history. Director, Steve McQueen, shows this throughout his film 12 Years a Slave. McQueen shows how horrific slavery really was. Steve McQueen had to make key decisions throughout the film. He had to figure out what to add and what to remove from Solomon Northup’s story.

Outside of school, I am an active member and participant of the Central Savannah River Area's National Society of Black Engineers where I serve as Secretary, Goodwill Youth Board where I hold office as Vice-President, Red Cross Youth Board, Augusta Mini Theater Community Arts and Life Skills School where I hold a position on the Board of Directors as Student Body Representative, Delta GEMS, Rosa T. Beard Debutante Club, and Boys and Girls Club of

At the Salvation Army, I’m currently case managing a consumer named, Mr. Adams. This consumer is a thirty-seven-year-old, Caucasian male that wears glasses and loosely-fitted athletic clothing. Mr. Adams height is average, but he appears to be overweight, according to the medical information documented in his file. Mr. Adams has no known visible tattoos or scars. As for education, Mr. Adams has only completed the eleventh grade. He has not completed a GED or any specialized training. The longest full-time employment he has had was for a year as an auto sales clerk at an auto parts store.

As a director and writer, it is my goal to tell stories that are buried within ourselves and within society. For this film, I am telling the story of how homeless veterans are forgotten by the world. In this way, I am tackling two major societal issues in one short film.

FACTS: The most effective programs for homeless and at-risk veterans are community-based, nonprofit, “veterans helping veterans” groups. Programs that work best feature transitional housing, with the camaraderie of living in structured, substance-free environments with fellow veterans who are succeeding at bettering themselves.

According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV), nearly 200,000 American Veterans are homeless on any given night (Rieckhoff). NCHV - the resource and technical assistance center - reported that the number of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) - (OEF) veterans are becoming homeless much more quickly than Vietnam veterans. As the war in Iraq and Afghanistan continues the number of homeless veterans increases. The next generation of American Veterans is on its way home, and tens of thousands more will return from combat over the years to come. Upon returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan thousands of veterans are facing a new nightmare, the risk of homelessness.

For most, lending a hand to someone only really counts for family members and friends. A person never really thinks about all the outside people in the world that need a little help. When the holiday season comes around people may not have the money to feed their families or buy Christmas gifts for their kids. Many agencies broadcast on television how to help these families, not just in your state but around the world. Like most, I for one have never volunteered, but I have donated. For a person that is looking to start volunteering, a little research should be done on different places. I for one like The Salvation Army as an organization. I always see them around the holiday season outside with the bells and red pails. Before volunteering

November is Homeless Awareness month, and administration wanted to highlight the district’s social/emotional support that is provided to students. Stephanie Kasprzak from MCOP shared some community data, and several of our social/emotional support team members talked about the services they provide.

As an officer in Key Club, I was given a marvelous opportunity to volunteer in an area I have never considered before. I was searching online when I discovered New Hope was hosting a party for kids that have incarcerated parents. I contacted them through email luckily they have emailed me back and they were happy to have me, volunteer. I usually help out on the craft table or in the kitchen serving the people. There are so many words I cannot help to describe how much I love volunteering, I love helping the kids who have an unfortunate life since they have incarcerated parents, and it makes me feel welcomed that the kids are allowing us the volunteers help them in their way of life to not end up like their parents.

The American Red Cross is an independent, volunteer-led organization, financially supported by voluntary public contributions and cost-reimbursement charges. It is an organization that provides services to all humanity both nationally and internationally. The International Red Cross works along side with the Red Crescent Movement and together they are the world's largest humanitarian network, with a presence and activities in almost every country.

For many homeless people finding food and shelter can be very difficult, because they do not have jobs to get money. Sometimes they have to go without food. Life can be very dangerous and difficult for the homeless when they sleep, they are taking the risk of being robbed. Homeless people need the energy to survive, they got lots of things to worry about they do not have to worry about getting a ticket for using the restroom. Private organization helps the homeless with their human rights. The private organization helps the homeless people the most, because the National Law Center on Homelessness and poverty are fighting legal bottles for homeless human rights, Maria Foscarinis is also trying to show how the government and the businesses don’t care about helping the homeless people the government and businesses only care about the money. The government states that the cities did not have problems with the homeless, however the government pass new laws, which leads them to arrest the homeless people.

Lucy Laney High School Student Helps Provide Security for Those Displaced After Homeless Shelter Closing

As a peace Corps volunteer there are trials that are expected on the field. Peace corps volunteers are placed in a community working to improve the challenges of the country in grass roots interactions. I served as a Peace Corps volunteer in a town near the center of Sierra Leone called Magburaka. The town was impoverished; there were very little access to basic provisions. In a year and half my definition of community started to form. Unfortunately, my time in Sierra Leone was cut short. All the Peace Corps Volunteers in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone were evacuated due to the Ebola Virus Disease. Being abruptly ripped away from the relationships, temporary home and projects was challenging and hard to endure. The experience reinforced my desire to make a difference and return to Sierra Leone once more. After a year of work in the states, I decided to go to Sierra Leone as Response Peace Corps volunteer and complete my definition of community.

It was during 1919 in Paris after World War 1 had just finished, when the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies was founded (IFRC). The idea of having such a symbol as a Red Cross came from Henry Dunant in 1859. It all started when Dunant witnessed a bloody battle scene in Solferino, Italy. Over 40,000 men laid dead or wounded in the battlefield without any medical help. It was from there and on when Dunant became determined to pass the Geneva Convention, which would eventually become the Red Cross association.

Paperclips. Usually, they hold paper together, but not in Linda Kimble’s case. Hurricane Katrina left her and many others in Monroe, Louisiana homeless. "I was still in New Orleans when Katrina hit," recants Linda. "I was in a hotel with other evacuees downtown and the wind kept slamming a door." Fortunately, they could find safety at the Red Cross run shelter in Monroe. Paperclips is the introduction to all of this because that's the nickname hurricane survivors gave to the volunteers at the shelter. The Paperclips worked with hurricane survivors to provide daily support and to help survivors orient themselves with their surroundings. Linda draws together the final strands of the connection, "Paperclips hold paper and hold people