This section summarizes the student’s data-gathering process and key findings from survey, interview, or other inquiry methods.
Throughout researching the topic of direct service I noticed something, oftentimes I found myself making assumptions about what direct service meant and restricting it to boxes I made in my mind. For example, I found myself surprised when I read somewhere about how teachers are a great example of direct service as they directly teach our future minds who will shape society’s future. For me direct service was the act of volunteering and directly helping those in need. So when I realized that it could apply to situations outside of what I expected, I wondered if the general public made the same assumptions as I did.
The purpose of my survey was to gauge how the general public views direct service and what initial thoughts come to their minds or what assumptions were made when they heard commonly used words under the direct service umbrella. I created a 5 question survey on google docs and collected responses by sharing it on social media and directly asking Utah Valley University Students to take it on campus. I received 47 responses and the results surprised me.
My first question was “When you hear the phrase “Direct Service” what is the first thing that comes to mind?”. The options I gave for responses were “volunteering, donating, teaching, conversation and other”. Out of the 47 respondents, 87.2% responded with “volunteering” and the other 12.8% responded with either “donating, teaching, or working”. Something I noticed and found interesting is that nobody selected “conversation” as the first thing that came to their mind. My second question was “When you hear the word “donate”, what is the first action that comes to mind?” 63.8% responded with “Donating clothes, food, or hygiene products”, while 29.8% responded with “Donating money”, and the remaining 6.4% responded with either “Donating time” or “other”. This surprised me because I assumed most people would select “Donating money” based on how frequently I see that money donations are sought online in the modern age. However, I was pleased to see that most people still view donating as providing essentials like food and clothes.
My third question was “Would you classify a free group therapy class as a form of direct service?” 87.2% of people responded with “Yes” and the other 12.7% responded with either “I’m not sure” or “no”. My fourth question was “Would you classify organizing an event for a non-profit for free, a form of donating?” 76.6% of people responded with “yes” and the other 23.4% responded with “I’m not sure” or “no”. The responses surprised me because I expected most people to say “I’m not sure” or “no” because I attempted to make my questions step outside of the bounds of what I envisioned direct service was typically viewed as which for me was volunteering to do a manual labor task or donate physical goods like money or necessities. However, the responses showed that most people can classify direct service outside of these bounds.
My last question was “Imagine a friend asked you to volunteer with them without any context and you agreed. Then you both showed up and were asked to simply have a conversation with a stranger. Would you…?” The responses are depicted by the graph below.
This section shares insights from a community partner interview, connecting their perspective to the Pathway theme.
When I first stepped into U.G.L.Y’s Closet I found myself full of curiosity and questions. I looked at the wall aimed at providing single parents with food and necessities and the sign up sheet to volunteer to help a single mother in need of assistance. I wondered to myself, who were the individuals behind this amazing thrift store? I later found out through research that the owner and founder is Jazmine Fox Edwards.
I had the pleasure of intervening with her and my first question for her was what did U.G.L.Y’s stand for? Jazmine shared with me that she would always drive from Salt Lake to Provo along the Wasatch front where she said “There was the U, the G, there was an L for in Orem, for Linkin, and then Y.” Collectively the acronym stands for Utah Girls Love You. I then asked Jazmine what was the motivation and inspiration behind creating U.G.L.Y’s Closet. Jazmine told me “the inspiration was just really, us helping people in general.” She mentioned they were first mobile and helped over 1,500 families and people throughout the Wasatch front. This gives more context as to how many times she was driving back and forth between Salt Lake and Provo. She and her team would go out and see the homeless, look for families in need and even spend time in grocery stores seeking anyone in need. Jazmine explained that this is how the thrift shop evolved, she mentioned “it just started taking off on itself.” and then they started focusing on single mothers. Jazmine shared that she was also a single mother and understood the struggles that came with being a single mother. She saw the need and felt the urge to help out. To give a glimpse of a portion of the responsibility that single mothers have on their shoulders, Jazmine shared how she was raising five kids on her own and had to simultaneously work three jobs. Jazmine finds herself now in a stable position where she has been devoting her life to helping others.I was curious to know what challenges Jazmine and her team had faced throughout the opening or the operation of the thrift shop. Jazmine told me when she was initially opening the thrift shop they didn’t get any loans, they had no money and that they had to use the money out of their own pockets. They had to figure out how they had to do it all by themselves without any assistance. Jazmine said “it was just one little simple idea, I had a whole bunch of stuff when we threw it in here and said let’s pray it goes.” and it did.
My last question for Jazmine was what impact has U.G.L.Y.”s Closet had on the local community? Jazmine responded with “We’ve had a huge impact on our community, not just our single parents, but low income families, and then just everyday thrifters like, this is their refuge.” To tie in she said she’s made connections with local single mothers, fathers and refugees and wants them to feel safe and comfortable when they come into the thrift shop especially when they come in with their kids. The single parents’ project is a project aimed at specifically helping single parents in need. Jazmine stated that the donations for this come from the community and sometimes they buy what they need out of their own pocket if they have to. Jazmine stated “but it’s really our community driving.” During the winter they go mobile to stay accessible to people, they bring diapers, clothing and hygiene products to different areas. Jazmine mentioned to receive help from this project, it’s a simple process that only involves filling out an application. She stated that their target this year is to help at least over 700 people. Jazmine says she’s “...just enjoyed doing this work within the community and building our little family.” which reassures the idea that U.G.L.Y.”s Closet's sole purpose is to help people in need and is home to a beautiful community.
This section summarizes readings and research related to a relevant topic within the student’s Pathway and connects them to larger patterns or themes.
Before the start of November there were many concerns on how the recent government shutdown was going to impact funding for SNAP benefits and what this meant for the people who relied on these benefits in terms of sourcing food. To understand the gravity of this issue, we must first understand what SNAP benefits are. According to the U.S Department of Agriculture, SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The USDA states that “SNAP provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford the nutritious food essential to health and well-being.” (USDA, 2025). In order for individuals to qualify for this program they must meet work requirements and a household must not exceed income limits, these requirements vary based on household situations.
Many Americans rely on these benefits to feed their families and themselves. Jordan W. Jones, a Research Economist, states “In fiscal year 2024, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) served an average of 41.7 million people per month, or 12.3 percent of U.S. residents.” (Jones, 2023). During the recent government shutdown there were concerns that SNAP would not receive any funding for the month of November. However, in an updated SNAP benefit November benefit issuance the USA has stated “States must not transmit full benefit issuance files to EBT processors. Instead, States must continue to process and load the partial issuance files that reflect the 35 percent reduction of maximum allotments…” (Penn, 2025). This means that recipients will only receive partial funding to their cards. Although this may not be as concerning as full benefit cuts it still creates concerns of food insecurity for families reliant on the assistance.
During these hard times, there has been a strong rise in community organizing and direct service here in Utah. Many individuals have started preparing themselves to volunteer at food banks. Local businesses who have the resources have started offering free meals to those in need. I have retrieved a quote from Chase Barrett, a student at Utah Valley University on his view of the urgency of volunteering during this time. He stated “...there’s a lot of uncertainty with people’s food security, I’m probably going to be spending my time here soon volunteering because this is something that affects everyone in a way, it’s important to help the people around us.” (personal communication, Nov. 10, 2025). As for local businesses, 14 Peaks, a local restaurant in Salt Lake City has stepped up to ease food insecurity in their community. On their website they state “if you or your family are affected by the government shutdown, please stop by for a complimentary meal - no questions asked.” (“STANDING TOGETHER through TOUGH TIMES,” 2025). This is just one example of the many local businesses in Utah that are directly serving their community. The Salt Lake City Green Blog states ways that able individuals can help. Some of the suggestions being to “Donate money to local mutual aid groups, community organizations or local businesses who are providing food.”, “Donate food to community organizations.”, and to “Donate time by volunteering with food distributing organizations.” (Williams, 2025). Direct service is needed now more than ever to feed our communities in Utah.
This section highlights helpful tools or guides that support real-world application of the Pathway.
Defining Immediate Needs and Long-Term Change — Everyday Activism Network
This article touches base with critiques on direct service organizations. Such as claiming that they can reinforce patterns of power, white saviorism through imposed eligibility criteria, and creating top-down approaches instead of viewing partners as equal. The article briefs on mutual aid models and funding barriers for direct service.
https://www.everydayactivismnetwork.org/archive/direct-services-systems-change
Doing Good or Doing Harm? A Critical Examination of Volunteerism in a Globalized World — Humans Rights Research Center
This article touches on how volunteers and voluntourism organizations are often the beneficiaries of volunteer work of the Global South instead of those that are claimed to be helped. It explains the unequal reward of voluntourism and how it reinforces harmful stereotypes. However, it provides processes to rethink voluntourism through self reflection and community collaboration.
Poverty is Not a Tourist Attraction — TEDx Talks
This youtube video with Jamilla Chakar shares her eye-opening experience with voluntourism and how it imposes more harm than good. She explains how it’s damaging and unhelpful for volunteers without experience to take up tasks they aren’t educated on. In her case, teaching children at orphanages aboard. She also mentions the emotional trauma children face when they create emotional attachments to volunteering individuals who they only meet in that instance and never see again.
This section reflects on a firsthand or immersive experience related to the Pathway topic.
Stepping into a community I wasn’t previously a part of and leaving feeling like I was now a part of something beautiful was the experience I gained from volunteering at U.G.L.Y.’s Closet on Center St in Pleasant Grove, Utah. The business is a thrift store run by the community for the community, originally opened in 2015 by the owner Jazmine Fox Edwards. The goal of the thrift store is to provide affordable clothing, kitchenware, and necessities to single parents and anyone in need.
Renato, part of the backbone of U.G.L.Y's, helped casually guide me while I volunteered. I was first tasked to sweep and organize the shelves. Renato and the owner Jazmine had let me know that this is a task they often have to do regularly as items get shuffled through every hour by customers. I briefly did this task and was then called to help organize newly brought donations. I was tasked to put clothes and cloth in plastic bags for later sorting. While working, I sparked up a conversation with Renato about thrift store prices at other popular, more well known thrift stores. I made a comparison between U.G.L.Y’s prices and other thrift stores. I mentioned how U.G.L.Y’s prices are actually really affordable, items costing cents to a couple of dollars. Renato mentioned how dollars add up quickly and for some people, $6 for a single article of clothing is just completely out of budget. For frame of reference, if a family bought three shirts for $6 it would come out to $18 which is enough money to provide a portion of groceries. Imagine a family who wants to clothe their three children for the winter, U.G.L.Y. 's makes it their goal to make this need accessible for families and individuals. This sparked a thought in my head, if the goal is to provide affordable clothing and items to the community, are they simultaneously keeping profit in mind. I asked Renato if they made any profit from the thrift shop and he humbly shared with me that they barely make any profit. He shared that he owns an old car and he and Jazmine aren't living a lavish lifestyle by running a business. The point of the thrift shop isn’t to make profit, it’s to be a place for the community to have access to their necessities.
Renato and I were outside, on the side of the building where donations are received and in a moment many people showed up at once. Renato explained that’s how it typically is, one moment you're doing the tasks at hand and the next, community members are piling up the donations on the outside table. I noticed while people came to drop off their donations they lingered to have conversations with Renato, they seemed very familiar with the donation process and gave updates on previously held conversations. I had never volunteered before but was welcomed into the conversations like I wasn’t a stranger. One example of this was when a regular donor named Chase, came to donate some toys and kitchen supplies. Renato kept calling him the fire man and I asked, why the nickname? Chase proceeded to open up to me and explained that his home had recently burned down due to a stove accident and he and his wife had been scrambling to deal with the situation. I thought to myself, amidst all the chaos in Chase’s life, he still went out of his way to come donate to this little thrift shop. To me this was a big representation of the love and community that has been built at U.G.L.Y. 's Closet. An interaction that happened in front of me that further strengthened this idea was that there was a cluster of pasta boxes that had been donated minutes ago. Chase saw these and asked to have some, referencing how he lost all his food in the house fire and without hesitation Renato told him to grab as many as he needed. This was a heartwarming interaction for me because I realized U.G.L.Y’s Closet isn’t just a thrift store, it's a place where you can find a community waiting for you with open arms. After these interactions I slowly began to feel more comfortable and familiar with the little thrift shop and by the time my volunteering hour was done I felt a strong urge telling me I needed to come back and visit again in the future.
This section offers closing reflections and invites readers to consider how they can apply the insights in their own lives and communities.
Community connections are more important now than ever, I encourage you to be on the lookout for local businesses whose aim is to help out their local community near you. Create these connections, volunteer if that’s an option, and have conversations with the local community members. You might end up leaving feeling like you're a part of something beautiful similar to what I experienced. If U.G.L.Y’s Closet is near you, I highly encourage you to check it out.
Food insecurity has always been a concern for many individuals in the United States, especially now during SNAP benefit cuts. When the government shutdown eventually ends, unfortunately many individuals will still face food insecurity. It’s important to be up to date on how you can help feed your local community, either through donating food to a food bank, organizing a drive or simply donating your time and labor. While this might take some time out of your day, this might make the difference between individuals in need eating a meal or not.
It’s important to always approach these experiences with a humble attitude and awareness that there’s always going to be something you don’t know or aren’t aware of. Even while helping others it’s important to view everyone as an equal. Thank you for joining me along this journey. If you have questions, feedback, or are interested in collaborating with the Center for Social Impact, we encourage you to reach out!
This section summarizes the student’s data-gathering process and key findings from survey, interview, or other inquiry methods.
My data collection effort was targeted specifically toward Utah Valley University students. The main goal was to gauge how many—and to what extent—UVU students involve themselves in volunteer or direct service opportunities, and what they take from those experiences. I also wanted to determine how many students are aware of the Grit Garden on campus and the resources it offers. The survey was designed to adapt to respondents’ answers.
Of the 32 responses, two-thirds said they had volunteered in the past. However, an overwhelming majority indicated that the biggest barrier to volunteering or participating in direct service was a lack of time. Several mentioned transportation and class schedules as additional challenges.
Those who had been involved in direct service initiatives reflected positively on their experiences, using words and phrases such as fulfillment, connections, and community.
Based on these responses, most people said that once they learn about volunteer opportunities, they are more likely to participate. This suggests that people are willing to make time in their schedules if they are aware of opportunities.
This section shares insights from a community partner interview, connecting their perspective to the Pathway theme.
Imagine a source of fresh produce accessible to college students for free. For many students, like myself, this sounds like a great opportunity to save money and eat healthy. Fortunately for UVU students, this is a reality—it’s called Fresh Food Fridays, sourced by the Grit Garden.
Boston Swan, the Greenhouse Director of the Grit Garden, runs the volunteer-based garden on campus alongside Garden Manager Austin Harvey. The garden was created about three years ago by UVU’s Sustainability Committee, inspired by two ideas: first, to have “somewhere to teach people how to grow their own food,” and second, to support the UVU Care Hub’s need for fresh produce.
Boston told me passionately that she and Austin “care so much about students” and “want them to be able to have food because school is expensive and life is expensive.”
When I asked what the garden would be like without volunteers, Boston immediately replied, “The Grit Garden would not exist without volunteers.” She explained that she and Austin “can barely scratch the surface of keeping on top of stuff if we don’t have volunteers—it would be a weed patch without them.”
When asked how the Grit Garden improves students’ lives, Boston said one of the biggest things volunteers gain is self-confidence. She described the process of gardening—planting a seed, watching it grow, and later harvesting it—as “a valuable and tangible source of pride.” She added that volunteers gain a new appreciation for the labor behind the food we eat and that gardening helps people “come out of their shells,” meet others, and build lasting friendships.
This section summarizes readings and research related to a relevant topic within the student’s Pathway and connects them to larger patterns or themes.
Direct service and volunteering typically have a good reputation and are viewed in a positive light, but not everyone chooses to volunteer. This led me to explore: What are common barriers people face when participating in direct service or volunteering opportunities?
Amy Yotopoulos, in Three Reasons Why People Don’t Volunteer, and What Can Be Done About It, explains that the main reason people don’t volunteer is due to time constraints and inflexible schedules. Reflecting on my survey results, this aligned closely with what UVU students reported—many said volunteering “usually overlaps with work or school schedules.”
Yotopoulos suggests making volunteering more accessible, such as encouraging employers to support volunteerism onsite or nearby. This would remove one of the most common barriers—transportation.
Rebecca Nebait, in The Decline of Volunteering in the U.S. Explained, identifies “economic disadvantages” as another key barrier. People living in poorer communities tend to volunteer less, creating what she calls “a troubling feedback loop where civic disengagement and economic hardship reinforce one another.” She argues that effective solutions must address both economic and social infrastructures to enable people to give their time and talents. Policymakers and community leaders must collaborate to break this cycle.
The final barrier is a lack of personal connection to volunteer work. Meghan Speer (2024), in [POV] Overcoming the Challenges of Volunteering, writes that many volunteer experiences are “often repetitive, dry, and unremarkable tasks that don’t make for great stories.” People may expect immediate gratification or emotional rewards, which can lead to disappointment.
This resonated with my own experience at the Grit Garden. Pulling weeds didn’t feel particularly exciting, and no one congratulated me for completing small tasks. But when I realized that each small task meant less work for others, I found motivation in the shared effort. Speer concluded that accepting volunteer work as meaningful even without “intense emotions” helps people become better volunteers. The true product of service lies in the work completed, not in external praise.
This section highlights helpful tools or guides that support real-world application of the Pathway.
How to Know if a Volunteer Program Is Legitimate — CleanUp
This article from CleanUp provides practical steps for verifying whether a volunteer
program is transparent and ethical. It offers red flags to avoid (such as unrealistic
promises) and suggests reviewing a program’s website, speaking with past volunteers,
and confirming that the organization clearly communicates its mission.https://www.cleanupusa.org/how-to-know-if-a-volunteer-program-is-legitimate
Evaluating the Ethics of Volunteering — Global Brigades
This article explores how to ensure your volunteer work is ethical. It warns against
programs that take a “white-saviorism” approach and emphasizes the need for reflection,
education, and preparation before engaging.https://blog.globalbrigades.org/evaluating-the-ethics-of-volunteering
Before You Volunteer, Make Sure You’re Actually Helping — The Kenan Institute for
Ethics
Kay Jowers’ article emphasizes how individuals can make the most effective contributions
by bringing their specific skills to support organizations as a whole. She encourages
self-awareness and deliberate engagement to ensure your work genuinely benefits the
community.
https://kenan.ethics.duke.edu/before-you-volunteer-make-sure-youre-actually-helping-nine-tips-for-ethical-community-engagement/
This section reflects on a firsthand or immersive experience related to the Pathway topic.
One of the best things about gardening, for me personally, is that you don’t have to worry about getting dirty—the expectation is already there. I volunteered at the Grit Garden for two hours during one of their scheduled volunteer sessions on Tuesday from 9–11 a.m. I jumped right in, first picking green peas off their vines, then moving on to okra. The sound of nature was soothing, and I was left alone with my thoughts while working.
While picking okra, I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of dishes it was used in. I had never seen okra before, and its shape caught my attention—the garden grew both red and green varieties. I noticed that the largest pods often grew near the bottom of the plants, shaded from the sun. I wondered if that was because they were harder to see and therefore picked less often or if it had something to do with the sunlight. After picking okra, I gathered cherry tomatoes and then pulled weeds around the crops.
I soon realized that this work was humbling. My knees, shins, and shoes were covered in dirt as I dug into the earth to pull up roots. Yet I found joy in this work. I was giving back to the same garden that had fed me a year earlier through Fresh Food Fridays. The sun was warm on my back, and I felt at peace.
Before volunteering, I had felt tired and sluggish, but afterward, I felt reconnected—with nature, my community, and myself. The experience was therapeutic, and I can’t wait to volunteer at the Grit Garden again. Self-driven volunteering means no one is forcing you to be there, and no one is congratulating you for each task—but the reward lies in using your own two hands to serve a community passionate about helping others.
This section offers closing reflections and invites readers to consider how they can apply the insights in their own lives and communities.
If you are looking for volunteer opportunities, I highly encourage you to check out the Grit Garden:https://uvugrit.garden/. It’s located behind the UCAS building by UVU at 940 W 800 S, Orem, UT 84058. Current volunteer hours are Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9–11 a.m., and Wednesday from 3–5 p.m. Come springtime, they will need lots of help preparing the garden for planting.
The Grit Garden also provides Fresh Food Fridays. If you’re a UVU student in need of free, fresh produce, they are hosting their last events this month on October 17 and 31. Whether or not you participate, remember to appreciate the people who helped grow or prepare the food that reaches you.
There are many benefits to participating in direct service or volunteering. It can be rewarding and fulfilling, but it’s important to remember that the work is ultimately for the community. The intentions behind volunteering are just as important as the work itself. Be mindful of using your specific skills to serve effectively and ethically.
Even with genuine intentions, always make sure programs are transparent and mission-aligned to ensure your efforts create lasting impact. Thank you for joining me along this journey. If you have questions, feedback, or are interested in collaborating with the Center for Social Impact, we encourage you to reach out!
