An Individual’s Impact

It is a common day to day thing that I see on my way to school. Sometimes it’s a person standing near the subway station quietly asking for money. Other times it’s someone searching through the trashcan on the corner. Common, because there are others like them who I see in my neighborhood – on the subway, near the supermarket, outside the coffee shop – where crowds walk nearby but mostly look away.

Someone like me who has a family that can afford the basic comforts, can go for a long time (sometimes a lifetime) without looking into the eyes of those people on the streets. But sometimes there are events that can change a person’s outlook on even the most common of things.

It was a simple question that changed my perspective on hunger and solidified my beliefs. After buying some bagels at a neighborhood store, I asked the owner what he did with his unsold baked goods at the end of the day. He shrugged his shoulders and said that he had to throw them all away. After looking at the racks of unsold bagels, I was shocked at the waste and knew I had to do something. My belief that an individual has the power to effect change started to take shape. I contacted City Harvest and every week I collect bread and bagels from several neighborhood stores and deliver them (with my mom’s help) to members of a church in Brooklyn. Their appreciation shows me that believing I can make a difference is based in reality.

I also believe that I have the responsibility to continue what I’ve started. This means asking other store owners to contribute and making other people and kids aware of the huge problem of getting food to those who need it.

I believe that all individuals have a responsibility to take action when they see a problem or an inequity. That responsibility can range from simply helping someone across the street to raising the awareness of a whole group of people to a problem (such as hunger).

There are so many problems in this country and around the world that a person can become overwhelmed trying to decide what to do and how to help. My belief that a person has the ability to effect change should make that person feel empowered to choose his or her cause. I believe it is the feeling of empowerment that can then motivate anyone to take action. Too many people look away when they see something that makes them uncomfortable. I believe that they must look right at the problem and face it head-on. That action will make them face their responsibility to take action. Sometimes it’s hard to see the big picture of the impact one person can have but I think of it like a chain reaction. I hope my actions can inspire others to believe that they can make a difference too and I believe that the chain will continue to grow.