I believe there are two types of volunteering, action based and interaction based. Both are equally important but interaction based, is a much more insightful and reflective experience. Action based volunteering is when you participate in manual labor or some task that supports an organization like filing, planting flowers, and sorting can goods. The only difference between action and interaction based volunteering is that the later allows for face to face experiences with the people who’s lives you are directly interacting with. In this sort of experience not only do you change the lives of others, but you are also deeply effected by the experience.

In our most recent challenge with Vehicles for Change, my team developed a social media strategy that was based on celebrating these face to face interactions. As I experience all of the unique volunteering opportunities that Challenge Detroit provides, I am continuously evolving and realizing the value of these interactions, not only as an empathy activity, but as a way to form myself through deciding who I am and how I want to effect the world.

In the spirit of Christmas giving I thought I would share one of my favorite holiday traditions and one of my favorite face to face experiences:

Since I was about 9 years old my family has volunteered with my church delivering holiday baskets filled with food and toys for families who needed a little extra help over the holidays. The first time we ever did this my parents, my brothers, and I piled into the car and loaded up the trunk with goodies and we were handed a map to the first family. I thought we would be in the car for awhile and drive to somewhere that was far away, that I would be able to see that the family we were going to see needed help. We pulled out of the parking lot and immediately turned into an adjacent neighborhood. The family was practically a neighbor. I don’t know why I thought this, I was pretty young, but I will always remember how I felt. The father of the family recently lost his job and there were a lot of kids. The father shyly opened the door as we all yelled “Merry Christmas.” The kids were ecstatic. After we neatly arranged the piles and said good bye, we went back to the church to get the next load. After that first trip, I learned so much more about the world. By the end of the experience, I was so happy for the holiday, for the gifts I had been given, for the family I had, and for the things I had learned that day.

To this day my family still delivers baskets. It is an essential part of our holiday experience, to make it not only about each other but also about others.

I challenge you to seek out face to face experiences, not only for other people, but also for yourself- for the insight you gain about yourself and for how it will open your eyes to the world.

Happy Holidays