What makes you feel good? Do you need to feel good? Well, here at Turning the Hearts Center we have something called Hearts for the Hungry. A food distribution center for hungry families that need food the most, we feed families every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month and will continue to do so as long as we can. It's a self choice food pantry, which means you can pick out your own food like a grocery store. Where am I going with this? Well listen, just for a couple of minutes, and let me tell you how this helps you feel good. There are people out there who aren't as fortunate as us and could use a helping hand. One of the ways you can do this is volunteering to help on the Saturdays we have this event.
What we do is make sure people are comfortable as they wait for their number to be called, pass out water to those who are thirsty, provide snacks, and help those who need groceries to be carried to their cars. People are really thankful to those who help out with Hearts for the Hungry because not many places have opportunities like Turning the Hearts Center. I personally love working FDC and bringing smiles to not only the faces of adults but the children as well. It really does a heart good to see a child happy that they are getting some of their favorite snacks from FDC. My fellow classmates enjoy the experience just as much as I do.
Joseph Rivera says "It's something new. A great way to get people food that they want and need. One of our mottos is 'if you wouldn't eat it, don't feed it to our families.' It's like going shopping at a grocery store, you pick what you like and ignore what you don't. I love the atmosphere that we bring as a team. We greet people and try to entertain and show people a good time while they are here at the Turning the Hearts Center. Being apart of this event brings me great happiness and gives me a sense of purpose."
If you're ever in Chula Vista on a Saturday and you've got time to spare, stop by Turning the Hearts Center and check out what we do because it definitely warms your heart. Especially this time around the holidays. Doing your heart good as well as some others will put a smile on your face and really make you feel good about yourself. Trust me when I say that FDC helps you feel good and as a student who definitely prefers sleeping in bed on a Saturday morning, I can honestly say I like waking up to helping others the days FDC is available.
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Most people would think it's just another school day where teachers just hand you work to do and expect you to get it done without them. But not here! At Turning the Hearts Center you not only get teachers who listen and help you, you get family. Personally, I really enjoy coming to school knowing I'll get encouragement to finish and people who will lend a helping hand. By 'helping hand' I really mean a helping hand.
I'm Emma Soto and I'm apart of the Youth Empowered to Live and Lead Program after completing a two week boot camp process. Once I got in the program I was very happy and excited to get started but something happened, part of my mental illness kicked in and I wanted to leave the program. The staff and teachers became concerned and made sure not to let that happen because my scores for the GED tests were pretty high. I did not know this but once I found out and had a few words of encouragement, I decided to stay. And you know what, I am glad that I did.
The teachers and staff are really like family here, and how do I know? I could tell because they suddenly all became concerned and made sure I was okay, they also did what ever they could to compromise with my schedule. Everyone at Turning the Hearts Center is friendly by greeting you with a smile and a 'hello' as you pass by. This isn't just a group of staff, teachers, and students. It's a family. All you really need to do is reach out and speak up, everyone is here to help no matter what. The best part about everyone, they don't judge you by your past mistakes. Why? Because your past should not punish your future.
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