Volunteer Placement at Open Hand, Essay

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The Catechism of the Catholic Church has a discussion of a "Love for the Poor," stating "those who are oppressed by poverty are the object of a preferential love on the part of the Church" ("Article 7: The Seventh Commandment, VI. Love for the Poor, 2448"). With these words and teachings of the Church, I took it as my duty to help those in need, realizing that, although we may be classed as a rich country, we still have the same social problems as many so-called third world countries.

Through the past 20 hours of service at Project Open Hand, I have learned a great deal about poverty in the country in which I live and have seen the relevance of the teachings of the Catholic Church. Although I myself was greatly surprised by how little I knew about the poverty situation in the United States, there is a great deal of awareness of this crisis in such places as Project Open Hand. It is through the work being done at Project Open Hand that I see the Church's teachings about the preferential treatment of the poor and vulnerable become a reality.
This treatment for the poor is not contingent on the needy individual's religious beliefs, but is based on Catholic values.

Overall my experience has taught me that social responsibility and a willingness to help others in need is present in many forms. Though it is not always overtly religious in nature, the underlying principles may come from Catholic-based values. People choose to help those who are weaker, more vulnerable, and more in need than the rest of us. As a result of my experiences, my views and assumptions about the poverty situation in the United States have been greatly altered. I believe that I now have a better understanding of the poverty crisis in America as well as the socially-aware frame of mind to help address the problem......

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"Volunteer Placement At Open Hand ", 22 April 2010, Accessed.4 June. 2026,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/volunteer-placement-open-hand-2102