Personal growth at the Houston Food Bank

The Houston Food Bank reports that one in seven Texans is food insecure, which means individuals must often decide between paying for groceries and other necessities. For example, many individuals prioritize their rent and utilities payment before paying for food because food can be “flexible” (i.e., watering down beverages). Although I had volunteered at the Houston Food Bank as a young child, I wanted to become more involved in the organization as a teen because I have grown more conscious of the many things in my life that I sometimes take for granted, like food security. That’s when I became involved with the Houston Food Bank Student Heroes.

The Houston Food Bank Student Heroes have taken on the responsibility to be servant leaders in their community at the largest food bank in the United States. This program, which is run by high school students and for high school students, teaches Student Heroes critical skills such as customer service, teamwork, and initiative.

As Student Heroes, we assist project managers and volunteer groups to maximize the productivity of the shifts. Whether it is answering a question for a new volunteer, or staying behind to clean up the project areas, Student Heroes’ roles are to help in the busy volunteer shifts. In my time as a Student Hero, I have grown in terms of public speaking and overall confidence. Before being a Student Hero, I did not feel confident speaking to large groups of strangers. However, with each shift I volunteered, my confidence grew. I started to project my voice louder, and eventually speaking to a group of 10 adult volunteers with certainty felt natural to me. The Student Hero Program helped me conquer my fear of public speaking and helped to establish my voice as a teenager and young woman.

If you are interested in becoming a Student Hero, applications are always open. It is such an amazing program that has taught me how to conduct myself in a professional setting and educated me on the serious issue of food insecurity. Check out the Houston Food Bank Student Heroes’ page on the Houston Food Bank’s website for more info!

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