Q&A with student volunteers

Mill Stream: How did you first get involved with helping others?

Junior Abby Floyd: I heard about it through my church and my family did it together.

Senior Michael Hayes: A friend told me they need help and I decided to go.

Senior Audrey Ruhl: My mom started helping out and said that they need help. They really needed people who could speak Spanish.

MS: How do you feel after you finish working?

AF: In a way you see what it’s like to not have stuff. I feel appreciative for the things I do have.

MH: I was happy I could actually help people.

AR: Content with the fact that you’re helping someone and that a small deed made a big difference in someone else. life.

MS: What was the first thing you thought right after you helped out for the first time?

AF: It was like “wow,” because you don’t realize what people don’t have and what you do have.

MH: I didn’t realize there were that many people in need in our community.

AR: I didn’t realize how many people in Noblesville need help/food. There is an average of 100 families per year.

MS: What made you want to keep helping out?

AF: I like to give and see people smile.

MH: I could make people happier.

AR: I saw the need people had and the young people having conversations with those in need.

MS: Where are you going to work this year?

AF: I’m not sure if I will have time to work this year unfortunately.

MH: I’m going to work at my church [White River Christian Church] because I’ve worked there before.

AR: I plan to work at White River Christian Church.

MS: Do you just help out at the holidays or year round?

AF: I help year round whenever my church does.

MH: I go year round when I can.

AR: I help year round definitely. People need help year round, not just on the holidays.

MS: What is the most rewarding part of helping out?

AF: It’s really sweet to see people so happy and just conncecting with those in need.

MH: It’s just rewarding to see how happy people get when they realize people are willing to help out.

AR: Often just seeing the smiles on people’s faces and seeing that they know someone loves them even complete strangers.

MS: What is the one memory you will never forget about helping out?

AF: The first year I went to a house with a mom and two kids and I just remember seeing them smile and the mom in tears.

MH: A mom came into the food pantry with three kids and one of the kids was playing with a toy car and hit me in the head with it. He started laughing and that last for five minutes.

AR: At a home build over the summer I was standing in the parking lot and just hearing the sound of all of the hammers was just overwhelming. It was amazing how many people came out to help.