How I Spent My Summer Vacation

Will McGregor (on ladder) is joined by Ben Braswell during
a Habitat for Humanity Build

Originally, I was not too excited about the prospect of doing a whole week of community service.  My mom had signed me up while I was out of town.  At the end of the week I was glad she had. Camp Impact exposed us youth to many different opportunities to volunteer.  A lot of what we did didn't even feel like community service.  With all the fun activities, the week flew by.  It also introduced me more to our youth group. We participated in a variety of activities such as Habitat for Humanity, bowling with the mentally impaired, and arts and crafts with the elderly and Southwestern hospital patients.  The Humane Society and playing with the kids at the Boys & Girls club was undeniably fun, but showing love towards the people at the senior center and the service center I felt was much more rewarding and needed.  I enjoyed singing hymns at Scott Senior center and decorating a picture frame with Mrs. Violet there.  My favorite part was the second day at the bowling alley with the Thomas Grady Service Center clients.  My group was bowling with a nice woman named Ashley.  We were bowling along side a guy named Eric.  When we started playing, I'm sure man of us felt the matches would be easy to win.  This proved not to be the case after the games got going, as it became clear Eric and many others were veteran bowlers.  After watching Ashley bowl a spare and watching Xavier, the man next to us, get a strike, the smiles and pure joy on their faces was awesome.   It really made me feel good to be out there as I was giving them high fives.  That day I understood that community service is not meant to make us feel good about ourselves, or even to show us other lifestyles. It is about giving joy to others.   Later in the week we were able to play softball with our bowling partners.  It was neat to meet them again and spend more time with them.    I like volunteering.  It gives me a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment thinking about the lives I hopefully affected positively.  It really makes me appreciate the well-being that God has blessed me with as well as being able bodied.  I'm thankful for the people that made this past week possible.  Project Impact was an eye-opening experience and helped me better understand the expression "you get back what you put in".

Will McGregor, 9th Grader
Hands On Thomas County
Project IMPACT Camper

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