This report explores the experience of direct service through immersive engagement, community interviews, data collection, and current event analysis, highlighting the importance of volunteer work and community impact. The immersive experience at a fundraising event for The Refuge depicted how direct service can extend beyond donating time to utilizing personal skills and supporting causes through accessible means. An interview with Ashlee Taylor, Executive Director of The Refuge, emphasized the critical role of volunteers in sustaining essential services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Revealing the extensive training, commitment, and responsibility required to provide effective and safe service to survivors.
Survey data showed that individuals are more likely to volunteer for causes they are familiar with and passionate about, with convenience playing a secondary role. An exploration of current events revealed the ongoing challenges faced by survivors in Utah due to limited funding and systemic barriers, further representing the life saving nature of organizations like The Refuge. Finally, resources on skills-based volunteering, volunteer training, and anti-oppressive social work discussed effective direct service practices. Overall, this report highlights how direct service combines personal engagement, community collaboration, and systemic awareness to create meaningful impact.
This section summarizes the student’s data-gathering process and key findings from survey, interview, or other inquiry methods.
Throughout my experience in life, when I find myself passionate or interested in a cause I find that I seek out involving myself in the solution without any hesitation. When I volunteer I gain full enjoyment from the experience of simply helping others out and without any feelings of restraint. I was curious to know if this was the same experience for others. The purpose of my survey was to gauge why people choose to volunteer and if individuals are more likely to volunteer for causes they are familiar with and interested in vs causes that are convenient or within proximity. I created my survey on Google Forms and I collected 38 responses on social media through my Instagram story.
My first two questions go as follows “On a scale of 1-5, how likely are you to volunteer for a cause you are familiar with?” and “On a scale of 1-5, how likely are you to volunteer for a cause you are unfamiliar with?” The results are presented on the graphs below.
Question 1: On a scale of 1-5, how likely are you to volunteer for a cause you are familiar with? (1 being “less likely to” and 5 being “most likely to”)
Out of the 38 respondents, 0 individuals selected 1 and 2 on the scale, 4 (10.5%) individuals selected 3, 20 (52.6%) individuals selected 4, and 14 (36.8%) individuals selected 5 on the scale.
Question 2:On a scale of 1-5, how likely are you to volunteer for a cause you are unfamiliar with? (1 being “less likely to” and 5 being “most likely to”)
Out of the 38 respondents, 7 (18.4%) individuals selected 1 on the scale, 20 (52.6%) individuals selected 2, 11 (28.9%) individuals selected 3, and 0 individuals selected 4 and 5 on the scale.
The data for these questions met my expectations, most people were more likely to volunteer for a cause they were familiar with and less likely to volunteer for a cause they were unfamiliar with.
My third question was “If you were to volunteer, what would be the reason that you're most likely to do it for?” The options I gave for responses were “It's for a cause you care about”, “You're doing it for a friend (They asked you to)”, “You're required to do it (for school, a job, or for legal reasons)”, “You would never volunteer ever no matter what”, and “Other.” 76.3% of respondents selected “It’s for a cause you care about”, 10.5% responded with “You're doing it for a friend (They asked you to)”, the remaining 13.2% responded with “You're required to do it (for school, a job, or for legal reasons)” or “Other”. A small detail to note is that none of the respondents selected “You would never volunteer ever no matter what”. The data for this question surprised me a little bit. I wasn’t sure what to expect for this question but I had assumed that more people would’ve selected that they were more likely to volunteer because they were required to but my assumption was incorrect.
My final question was “Let's say somewhere along your career or while doing things that are in your interest, you are asked to volunteer and you agree. You can volunteer anywhere and anytime. Would you..?” The options I gave for responses were “Be more likely to volunteer for a cause that is close within proximity and convenient to get to even if the cause is something you're unfamiliar with”, “Be more likely to drive or commute a distance for a cause you care deeply about and are interested in”, and “Other.” 55.3% of respondents selected “Be more likely to volunteer for a cause that is close within proximity and convenient to get to even if the cause is something you're unfamiliar with”, 42.1% selected “Be more likely to volunteer for a cause that is close within proximity and convenient to get to even if the cause is something you're unfamiliar with”, and the remaining 2.6% responded with “Other.” The data for this question did surprise me and didn’t meet my expectation that most people would choose convenience over interest.
Overall, the collective data reflects that the majority of people choose to volunteer for personal reasons such as interest, passion, and familiarity. The majority of people would also be willing to go out of their way to seek these experiences even if it’s not in their convenience. However, this was not by a large margin, a good portion of people would pick convenience over interest. On the last question something that stood out to me is that a singular respondent selected “Other” and said “I would commute further if there was public transit otherwise I feel as though I would have to do something nearby and more convenient//accessible.” This response brought to my attention that in reality the reasons why people choose to volunteer and for what causes can extend outside their personal preference due to external circumstances that may be out of their control.
This section shares insights from a community partner interview, connecting their perspective to the Pathway theme.
My first introduction to The Refuge was when they were tabling as a resource for the Clothesline Project held on UVU campus through The Center For Social Impact. My initial thought was that I appreciated how the event provided resources for individuals that may need it as the contents of the event were very vulnerable, intimate and uncensored. The Refuge (formaly known as the Center for Women and Children in Crisis) is a safe environment for individuals who are survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. I had the privilege of interviewing Ashlee Taylor, the Executive Director at The Refuge.
My first question for Ashlee was “What does The Refuge do and how did it come to exist?” In Ashlee’s words The Refuge “Provides service to victims of sexual assault and demostic violence, with the goal of empowering them to be able to move forward with their lives in whatever way they choose.” Ashlee stated the group was first formed by “Concerned citizens that saw more issues arising around domestic violence” in 1984 and that “They wanted to make an impact in their community.” The group gained support and resources from United Way of Utah County that helped gain staffing for the group. I was more curious to know what the word “Empower” meant to Ashlee in this context. Ashlee stated that The Refuge always says that they “want people to know about all the choices that are available to them and all the resources.” Ashlee expressed that they “help break down any barriers that stand between them and getting to where they want to be next.” Ashlee described that this can look like connecting an individual to a resource or “helping find a different pathway” that ensures food security, safe housing or breaking down barriers that may get in the way of education or a job.
My next question for Ashlee was “What role do volunteers fill in at The Refuge and what gaps would exist without volunteers?” Ashlee explained that “volunteers are really key” for the organization and that “they provide almost 20,000 hours of volunteer work each year, which is the equivalent of about 10 full-time employees.” Ashlee stated that they have volunteers that help with their children’s program and volunteers that work on their hospital team. The children’s program volunteers “work daily with the kids, providing educational opportunities and fun opportunities to remind them that they just are a kid, even though they’re going through trauma and some difficult times.” The hospital team volunteers are on call for a 24 hour shift where they answer the crisis line to help individuals facing a sexual assault situation and they help provide the individual with resources and help. They are also on call to accompany an individual who is receiving a forensic medical exam to the hospital. I noticed that these volunteers hold a lot of responsibility and in situations as sensitive as this, reducing harm is extremely important. Ashlee stated that “volunteers go anywhere from 20 to 40 hours of training before they start volunteering.” They also go through an interview and a background check to ensure that “they’re going to be a good fit for the role that they are taking on and that they really understand its responsibilities.” Volunteers are also asked to make a 6 month commitment to maintain continuity and quality of service. The six month commitment prevents from having to constantly be training new volunteers and to ensure that volunteers are able to provide better quality services to victims. Ashlee explained that without volunteers they really “would not be able to have a hospital response team” because their funding is so minimal. The Refuge receives some federal and state funding “mostly through competitive grants, so nothing is stable.” They also rely on “individual donors and family foundations, as well as corporations” in their community that are “dedicated to giving back.” This really shows how crucial volunteers that provide direct service to The Refuge are. As volunteers aren’t paid and are one less expense that The Refuge has to be concerned about, allowing it to operate more functionally and efficiently.
My final question for Ashlee was “Why do you think it’s important for a space like The Refuge to exist within a community?” Ashlee expressed that the services they provide are vital and that they “have survivors reaching out every day who are in crisis and in need of assistance.” This could range from staying at The Refuge’s emergency shelter or getting help gaining access to the medical forensic exam. Ultimately, “just needing those services so that they can help move through the crisis situation they’re in and help to stabilize their family and be able to help support their children.” Ashlee shared with me her reason for choosing this line of work. She shared that she’s always worked in non-profits and that she’s always wanted to make sure that she is supporting her community in the best way possible. She vulnerably expressed that “when we see individuals who have been the victim of a crime at no fault of their own, it’s disheartening to see because they are in a situation where they are vulnerable and often have children with them.” and that “it should never be a burden for them or for their children to be able to find a safe place to live and a safe and loving home to be in.” Ashlee’s call to action was “if we can focus on supporting those individuals, that’s how we can really help to bolster our community and help our whole community to be a safer place for everyone.” Ultimately, through the words of Ashlee the more that we talk about it and the more that we recognize that it’s happening in our community, more people can come forward and find help and hope.
A personal note from me, It’s important to break the hush culture that is often associated with sexual assault and domestic volence. I imagine that very last thing a victim needs is to feel ashamed to talk about. If it's taboo to speak up about these issues that leads to individuals feeling like it’s a battle they have to face on their own. The journey of healing starts by speaking out and breaking the cycle of silence.
This section summarizes readings and research related to a relevant topic within the student’s Pathway and connects them to larger patterns or themes.
Domestic violence and sexual assault cases tragically happen frequently in the State of Utah, within in our communities and even in what we call our own backyards. Often, survivors feel pressured to stay quiet and not speak out due to a normalized hush culture. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for perpetrators to be someone that the survivor personally knows. In a news article written by Abené Clayton, she states “...more than a third – of the 137 homicides between July 2023 and January 2025 were the result of intimate partner or familial violence.” She also mentions that “Domestic violence is the leading cause of homicide in Utah, according to an analysis of FBI and state data by a local news station in Salt Lake City.” (Clayton, 2025). Despite the urgency of these frequent injustices, it’s not a prioritized issue in the State of Utah.
Resources for survivors have already historically lacked funding and now they face even stricter financial limitations.
In an article written by Emily Anderson Stern she mentions that “Jen Campbell, executive director of the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition (UDVC), said the web pages for some of the federal grants her organization typically applies for have vanished in recent weeks.”(Stern, 2025). In relation to this, Abené Clayton explains in her article that “The Trump administration made deep cuts to funding for victims of crime and state legislators excluded $1.6m in new funding requested by the UDVC.” (Clayton, 2025). Emily Anderson Stern further explains this by stating that “...the Legislature either passed over or gave less than anticipated for four key funding requests.” One of those requests involved the 16 state-licensed domestic violence services programs, which “...hoped to receive $1.4 million annually through a request from Rep. Gay Lynn Bennion, D-Cottonwood Heights.” to which “Members of the Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee agreed to prioritize $1.3 million.” However, “The Executive Appropriations Committee did not include any of those funds in this year’s budget.” (Stern, 2025). These financial cuts directly create a negative impact on the programs and direct service providers that aid to empower survivors.
These programs provide emergency shelters, legal support, and assistance towards gaining access to forensic exams for individuals in need which should be accessible to everybody. However, financial limitations like these prevent growth for these resources and programs which have been facing a higher demand in recent years. This has resulted in instances where they are unable to provide crucial and necessary support to everyone in need. In a KUTV news article written by Jamie McGriff it’s mentioned that The Refuge has had to unfortunately turn away individuals seeking shelter. Ashlee Taylor, the Executive Director at The Refuge is quoted in the article sharing that “Last year we had over 450 requests for shelter that we couldn’t fill because our facilities were full.” (McGriff, 2025). In addition to this, Abené Clayton highlighted that “These cuts are especially gutting for rural communities, many of which have just one service provider for hundreds of miles.” (Clayton, 2025). This is very disheartening because everybody deserves a chance to receive support and assistance. It shouldn’t have to be limited to a first come first serve basis because the reality is survivors don’t get to choose when and where they face these struggles.
These resources are crucial to survivors and their journey towards healing. Lyndsey Hackford’s story perfectly reflects this, she undeservingly faced the injustices of domestic violence but was ultimately able to escape her abusive husband and came through as a survivor. She was able to do it with the helping hands of The Refuge where she received housing assistance for her and her Children. In an article written by Jamie McGriff, her gratitude is expressed through this quote where she shares her experience “And that was huge to me, being successful because it helped me regain the confidence in being a mom, in being my own adult. And I still attribute them and my victim’s advocate to the two things that made me successful in leaving him and staying gone.” (McGriff, 2025). This is only one heartfelt success story alongside many others and many more to come. Emily Anderson Stern brought up the concern that “The Utah Domestic Violence Coalition and the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault will now have to rely on private fundraising if programs helping victims and preventing future crimes are to continue.” (Stern, 2025). The existence of these programs is absolutely crucial because for some individuals it’s quite literally life or death. For those of us who don’t rely on these programs, it’s very important that we participate in the direct service that will keep these programs running for the sake of our communities safety and care.
This section highlights helpful tools or guides that support real-world application of the Pathway.
What Is Skills-Based Volunteering? Benefits & Examples - Miami County Community Foundation
This article provides an explanation on skills based volunteering which is a form of service where individuals use their professional skills, to help nonprofits address real organizational challenges and build long term impact. It claims that many organizations report limited access to expert support in areas like marketing, technology, and strategic planning, making skills-based volunteering not only valuable but essential. It also provides examples of skills based volunteer work and the benefits that it provides nonprofit organizations. It also explains that volunteers gain professional development, networking opportunities, and personal fulfillment through meaningful community involvement.
https://micocf.org/blog/what-is-skills-based-volunteering-and-benefits/
Optimizing Volunteer Training for Nonprofits - VolunteerMatters
This article explains the importance of volunteer training for non profits. It provides volunteers with the right skills, increases confidence, improves performance, enhances safety and compliance, and leads to better experiences and retention. It describes different types of training which includes virtual, in-person, and third-party formats. It also discusses the benefits and challenges of each method and emphasizes the importance of best practices for implementing training. It stresses the importance of providing ongoing learning and feedback to keep volunteers engaged, motivated, and committed to the non profit's mission.
Ultimate Guide To Anti-Oppressive Social Work – 2025 Checklist & Case Studies - Social Work Portal
This article defines anti-oppressive practices in social work as a framework and commitment to challenging systemic inequalities and power imbalances that marginalize individuals and communities. These practices are aimed towards helping clients with immediate needs but also working to dismantle the structural barriers. It emphasizes practices such as recognizing power dynamics, intersectionality, client empowerment, cultural competence, and advocacy for structural change. It encourages direct service providers to continually reflect their own attitudes, assumptions, and potential biases to ultimately promote equity and justice in both individual practice and larger scale work.
https://www.socialworkportal.com/social-anti-oppressive-practice/
This section reflects on a firsthand or immersive experience related to the Pathway topic.
I’ve always enjoyed going to museums and art exhibitions. My favorite part is always interpreting the meaning of the artwork, trying to analyze it, and understand it on a deeper level. This is the experience I had on December 5th at Borderandsquare, a picture frame shop located in Provo that frequently hosts art exhibitions.
The picture frame shop hosted a fundraising event for The Refuge featuring local artists. While observing the art I found myself in complete awe at every single work of art. So much so that I found myself revisiting art pieces more than once. While walking around, I couldn’t help but feel hyper aware of my presence - I felt like an outsider walking into a tight knit community. It felt like everyone there was there to support a friend or family member, as if everyone knew each other or were friends of friends. It was one big conversation and I felt like an intruder because I was by myself and didn’t know anyone there. However, the more time I spent there, my hyper awareness eased and I gained a sense of comfort in my presence, the artwork becoming more familiar and welcoming every time I revisited each piece. I started to feel like I was beginning to get to know the artists through their artwork, recognizing the different stylizations in their strokes and color pallets.
After indulging in the artwork I decided to indulge in some pastries. There was a section where pastries were being sold by Neighborhood bakes, a microbakery located in Provo. It was stated on a flyer that 25% of their profit made that night was going to be donated to The Refuge. I chatted with the baker for a brief moment and she shared with me that she actually had a big event the next day that required many more pastries than this fundraising event did. I thought to myself that it was very generous of her to volunteer her limited time to bake for this event considering a percentage of her earnings would be donated.
After buying two pastries I walked outside to view a stand that I saw on my way in, I was intrigued to know what it was since I only caught a glance of it on my way in. To my surprise it was a pizza stand run by Starving Artist Pizza. A locally owned mobile pizza shop, while talking to the people making the pizza I found out that it’s run by two men who are art majors. They stated that their professor is associated with Borderandsquare and asked them to set up a stand. While talking to them they also shared that a percentage of their profit would be donated to The Refuge. Given that information, I decided to purchase a pizza to support Starving Artist Pizza and The Refuge. Days after the event, the instagram account @borderandsquare made a post on December 12th where Kheng Lim the owner of the picture frame shop stated that so far they have raised $15,000 to donate to The Refuge (Border and Square , 2025).
I really enjoyed experiencing this fundraising event and felt that it was a great representation on how to execute direct service by utilizing your already existing skills. While observing the art I noticed that a good portion of the paintings had been marked as sold. I personally wanted to contribute myself but didn’t have the funds to support. That’s why I was very thankful at the fact that I was still able to contribute by purchasing the pastries and pizza. I thought this was a great addition to the fundraising event, as it opened up more opportunities for people to directly serve and donate, who maybe weren’t able to afford purchasing a piece of art. Overall, I really enjoyed this experience and thought it was a good opportunity to observe how direct service can look like more than just volunteering your time and labor. It can look like volunteering your specialized skills and using that as a form of donation.
This section offers closing reflections and invites readers to consider how they can apply the insights in their own lives and communities.
Domestic violence and sexual assault are not distant problems, they happen in our communities, our schools, and sometimes in our own homes. Organizations like The Refuge provide crucial life saving support for survivors. However, due to recent budget cuts, services like this rely heavily on volunteers, donors, and community engagement to continue their work. That’s why it’s very important that we as a community put in the time and effort to keep these kinds of programs running. Providing help can be accessible, you don’t need to have a large budget or specialized training to make a difference. Whether it’s volunteering your time, sharing your skills, or contributing to local fundraisers, every effort matters. Even small actions like supporting a local fundraiser or checking in with a friend can empower survivors and help break the cycle of silence.
Here are some suggestions for what action steps might look like:
It’s very important that we as a collective continue to speak out about these issues and the struggles that survivors face, whether it’s systemic barriers like limited funding or perceived barriers like the pressure to stay silent due to hush culture. Our small actions may have more impact than we might think, it’s important that we support these programs that aid survivors to help our communities feel safe and welcoming. 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!
