Inspired Magazine November | Page 27

y Sponsored b COMMUNITY individuals. The final pillar of SIA is impact... how have we affected people’s lives for the better? One of the biggest projects on our day of service was working with “Kids Against Hunger” to package meals to fight hunger in over 60 countries around the world. On our day of service we were successfully able to pack over 35,000 meals to send to children in need, both locally and internationally. Together we touched the 21,000 lives of the people in our community. But what meant the most was the personal impact. It is the student returning saying “I want to volunteer there again,” the student that returns and tells their teacher “I feel happy with myself because of what I did,” or the student, that never participates in class, talking about what she did and how tired she is from the work. It also is the email from a parent to our principal surprised because their son talked about what he did at school and seeing his excitement made their day. For this very reason we encourage you to become a part of SIA, whether you are a teacher, principal, or student. Today poverty levels are at an all-time high, non-forprofits are struggling to stay afloat in a poor economy, and people need help. Whether you’re cleaning u p a park, helping at an animal shelter, working at a nursing home or hospital to hopefully brighten people’s days, or helping around your school... You are making an impact on someone’s life, no matter how small. www.readinspiredmag.org Express Yourself 27