" Being an upstander isn't just about wanting to make change in this world, it's about actually doing it. There's a fine line being saying and doing. "
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
About My Upstander
Nancy Himmel works at an organization called the Hollywood Food Coalition. She and other volunteers go to the building that they use every night when they are able, and cook and bake fresh, homemade meals for anyone who might come by and who needs it. they make the food entirely out of scratch, and distribute it equally among all the guests who arrive, which can sometimes be hundreds of people per night. This organization has helped thousands of people get through their nights by providing them with homemade, delicious meals. When I asked Nancy how she found out about the organization, she told me that she lately had been very busy, and had been wanting to give back to her community, but couldn't decide on how. She eventually stumbled upon this organization and decided to try it out, and has been volunteering there ever since. I decided to relate this to a lot of other experiences I have had in my life, where the most unexpected things can lead you to discover a thing you never knew you wanted or were missing from your life.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What it Means To Be an Upstander
One of the hardest things about giving back is probably because it takes a lot of courage and effort to be an upstander. Some people can't find the time in their schedule because they're very busy, others may have trouble finding which organization or field suits them best, and maybe some just are too lazy to get out there and make some change. Nancy was glad not to be in the situation that most of her clients were in, which only made her want to help the community even more. Sometimes it could be overwhelming, but seeing that others didn't have the same privileges as she did just fueled her determination and made her work even harder.
I asked her if she had any advice for people who were wanting to get involved in this kind of work, and this is what she said:
" Like I think with anything: just make the time. Do it. I think so many people get caught up in their own lives, but if you make the time and try out different things you’ll find so much joy and purpose in giving back. So make the time. Start asking other people. You’ll be surprised!"
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
My Exhibit and Video