what volunteerism means to me

Ai-Linh Nguyen

I first heard about Food4Philly from a friend who had volunteered at one of the organization’s food distribution events. I had been looking for more ways to get involved in the community, and this opportunity was exactly what I was looking for. I have loved serving on the Communications Team and working with other passionate high schoolers to coordinate our operations and grow our impact.

This non-profit has allowed me to give back to others in numerous ways, and I am deeply grateful for the work that we do here. Through working with the organization’s other teams, we have been able to provide volunteer opportunities to local high schoolers in the same way Food4Philly provided them to us.

My interest in community service had been formed since I was young. When my family first came to the United States as immigrants, they had to rely on the generosity of the residents of the Philadelphia suburbs to help them find their footing in a new country. Never forgetting the kindness they showed to my family, I was raised to help others and pay forward the kindness my family received.

I was fortunate to have been exposed to community service when I was young. My first memory of getting to participate in a service event was when our school hosted a Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. We made sandwiches and pasta and packed them for distribution to Philadelphians in need. Even now, I can remember watching the takeout boxes slowly pile up as we prepared food, and how rewarding it felt, knowing that each one would provide someone with a meal.

That feeling has never left me, and the meaningfulness of volunteer work led me to this organization. Even now, participating in sandwich-making events at the Haverford School takes me back to elementary school, making PB&J’s in the cafeteria. The food distributions in Hunting Park have made our impact more tangible. Getting to give food directly to those we seek to help reinforces the meaning and purpose of our work. Paying it forward benefits everyone, and volunteering is one of many ways we can all work together to make a difference.

– Ai-Linh Nguyen