Interfaith Service Day 2011
Interfaith Service Day was an opportunity for students to provide volunteer service in the Portland community.
Interfaith Service Day, Saturday October 22nd, was an opportunity for students to provide volunteer service in the Portland community and connect with other students about how service and volunteerism are connected to different cultural and/or faith backgrounds. A number of international students participated in the Interfaith Service Day this year, and Chido Dhliwayo, a PSU international student, gave us an account of her experience.
Chido shared with us:
“Being part of the Interfaith Service Day was a joy and an experience that I will never forget. As volunteers, we had an opportunity to go to different service sites and participate in service projects. Our group went to the Ronald McDonald House, where we raked, swept the driveway, parking area, and cleaned the garden. We were also able to bake cookies for the families that were residing there.
Before we started to volunteer we participated in a tour and learned the history of the Ronald McDonald House and how it helps many families. It was an eye opening experience for me as it gave me a better understanding of how much of a difference a House like this makes for families and especially for children. What made my day even more special was understanding and knowing that I made a difference in someone else’s life.
After our voluntary service, we all came together to reflect and discuss the experiences we had had at different service sites. As an international student, I gained different perspectives from other students with different cultures and backgrounds on how their service related to their beliefs. The most important part was that despite all of our different backgrounds, we all come from places where people help each other. I believe that the act of giving, sharing, helping or simply showing some care or love is the most important in a community, and at the Interfaith Service Day, we were able to do just that.”