World We Imagine Part 1

 Although making the world a better place is definitely a daunting goal, I think each person can contribute to this by impacting their smaller community around them. As I've grown older, I've noticed that the most impactful organizations and relationships are those that target a local demographic, rather than having a really big goal of impacting the entire world. This is definitely because smaller organizations form more close and meaningful relationships where they're able to understand those they help as individuals rather than a homogenous group of people in need.

In high school, my favorite organization that I volunteered for was called Treasure House. Treasure House looks like a secondhand thrift store from the outside, but it is much more than that. Treasure House specializes in providing second-hand items to the homeless for heavily discounted prices, even more than a Goodwill. Those in need receive a special voucher, where they are given designated time slots to shop and a minimum/maximum on what they can purchase.

My favorite part about working with this organization was all the meaningful interactions I saw between the shoppers and the workers. For a lot of the shoppers, this would be the first time in a long time that they would be able to own something for themselves that they were proud of. They would often ask the store attendants for styling options, fashion trend suggestions, or a quick thumbs up or down. It was heartwarming to see how the store attendants would soon recognize what the personal styles of some shoppers were.

In making the world a better place, I would love to volunteer and work for small local nonprofits like these that are able to give back to their community, but still be a part of it.