Service Leadership in Atlanta..days 2 and 3 : )

Hey y'all!!!

Unfortunately, the last two days here in ATL have been very rainy, but this has not negatively affected our spirits or enthusiasm, nor have we allowed the weather to affect our service work. It's work as usual for us Bonners...

We were all VERY excited to be working at Hosea Feed the Hungry and at Hope Elementary School. Both experiences have taught me that the volunteer work that we preform has a much bigger impact than any of us can fully understand. All of those cans that we help sort, though a seemingly small job, on a BIGGER scale would eventually end up being packaged up and distributed to those in need in the local community of Atlanta. We were just a small piece of a much larger puzzle that will slowly come together in order to solve the pandemic problems that tend to plague any large city. I am proud to say that TCNJ Bonner Community Scholars were a piece of that puzzle. At Hope Elementary School we facilitated the Junior Achievement Program, a great interactive and educational program that allows students K-6th grade to become familiar with all the components of a good business, and along the way they not only learn about themselves but about those people with whom they are working with. Sabrina and I were partners for this program, and we both LOVED it! It was extremely age appropriate, and the kids were completely engaged, eager, and enthusiastic the whole time. Also, we couldn't have asked for a better class or teacher : ).. Thanks to the prep time that we had the day before we were to head the program, the day ran smoothly and the staff and students at Hope Elementary were very pleased with our work. :)

As Bonner Scholars we are expected to show exemplary skills as both a volunteers and leaders. Simultaneously fulfilling these rolls is not only an easy task, but the rewards associated with this type of role in our world are nothing short of amazing! I strongly believe that it's not enough to only reach out and help those in our local communities, we need to not only think locally, but nationally, and look at the bigger puzzle and think globally!

Tomorrow we leave.. :(

Later y'all!

B-love,

Ashley