Spending my evening surrounded by kids and cookies at the Dorothy Day House was a real treat. I can’t think of a better way to wrap up my week with Volunteer Odyssey. The Dorothy Day house provides temporary housing and support to homeless families in Memphis. Every Sunday night, community volunteers bring baked goods and come together for an hour of reflection and thanks. This weekly event, and organization, two more examples of what a wonderful community Memphis truly is. This particular Sunday evening, multiple families from various organizations brought desserts and shared their evening with the current residents and other volunteers.

Though the dessert event only lasted about an hour, I was so moved by my time at the Dorothy Day House. Families living there as well as other visitors made me feel immediately welcome. As we sat around eating dessert and chatting, kids of all different ages entertained one another. It was a special moment.

Every day my volunteer experiences have been so different, and they have all shown me the value and benefits of serving the Memphis community.