1. Running head: CIVILITY ASSIGNMENT ESSAY 1
Civility
Civility Assignment Essay
Griffin Geick
University of Northern Iowa

2. CIVILITY 2
While reviewing options for the service learning assignment, I was intrigued
with the Cedar Valley Boys and Girls Club and the Cedar Valley Northeast Food
Bank. I chose to split my time between the two organizations because I thought I
would get a better experience by seeing the operations of two highly regarded
community service groups. At first, I dreaded this assignment, because it took me
back to high school when I had a similar required assignment, but after I completed
my volunteer hours, I was actually very glad that I chose these organizations and
participated in their activities. I realized that it is very heartwarming and humbling
to help others that don’t have nearly as much as I have.
My first adventure was with the Cedar Valley Boys and Girls Club. On a
Tuesday night, I went to the Cedar Valley Boys and Girls Club and played football
and basketball with the kids there from 5:30 to 7:30. I really enjoyed this because I
love sports, and it was evident that the kids there did too. Boy did they wear me out!
By the time I had to leave, I was drenched in sweat and ready to go to sleep for a
week. But more importantly, I realized that we had a lot more in common that I
originally thought.
I selected this agency because when I was growing up, I was very fortunate to
have everything I could have ever wanted. These kids don’t have that though. They
are underprivileged, and that just breaks my heart. I wanted to go there and do
whatever I could to try to help them have anything they wanted. But what I didn’t
expect to find was how happy they seemed to be. It amazed me how happy the kids
there were. They don’t have much, but they make the most of it. They don’t seem to

3. CIVILITY 3
feel like any less of a person because they don’t have everything I had as I was
growing up. They just live their lives, and seem to be very content.
I wasn’t one hundred-percent sure what I was hoping to get out of this
experience. I kind of went in with the wrong attitude, like it was something I had to
do. However, as soon as I walked into that gym, it all changed. I went from an
unwilling participant in a community service project, to an enthusiastic teammate
and hoped to spend the short amount of time I had with the kids doing everything I
could to make it the best couple of hours they had had in a while. And when I left, I
realized we all had fun, and more importantly, that I got a lot out of the time I spent
with them.
I think I grew as a person because of this experience. I realized how lucky I
am, and the things I take for granted are things that some kids can only dream of.
Also, I realized that what you have doesn’t make you happy, but it’s what you do
with however little or however much you have that makes you happy. These kids
are a prime example of this, they don’t have much, but they seriously seemed
happier than me.
The way my experience affected my view on the Cedar Valley Boys and Girls
Club is that they are one of the best organizations out there in terms of helping kids
be kids. The Boys and Girls Club is an organization serving kids throughout the
country, and gives boys and girls with barely anything, the things that most of us
take for granted: 3 meals a day and activities to not only keep them busy, but also to
keep a smile on their faces.

4. CIVILITY 4
My time at the Boys and Girls Club definitely changed how I view myself. My
whole life, I have been beyond blessed with way more than I need. After this
volunteer experience, I want to continue to go to the Boys and Girls Club and do
what I can to help out there, because I realized that nothing makes me happier than
putting a smile on other people’s faces, especially those that are underprivileged. I
now understand the value of paying things forward.
The second organization that I helped with was the Cedar Valley Northeast
Food Bank on a Tuesday night from 5:30-7:30. This one was a lot more work than
the Boys and Girls Club, but it was definitely worth it. Once we got to the food
shelter, we immediately started putting meals into plastic bags. The plastic bags
were filled with a meal then put into boxes and then loaded onto a truck. We did this
for two hours, and I was surprised how fast the time went.
Admittedly, I selected this agency because it was the only volunteering thing
that fit into my schedule, but I also realized it would have been a great way to give
back and help out the Cedar Valley community. I wasn’t too excited about this one at
first, but after the fact, I am definitely glad I did it, as it was another big eye-opener.
I really didn’t know what I would get out of this experience because I had no
idea what I would be doing. If I had to envision myself getting anything out of it
before I actually got there, I think it would simply be helping the food bank process
meals. I realized that by being there to fill plastic bags with food for only two hours,
I helped the not only the Cedar Valley Northeast Food Bank, which has done so
much for the community, but also the people it serves. This was a “double win”
experience for me.

5. CIVILITY 5
Boy oh boy did I get a lot out of this one. It was a huge eye-opener for me. I
asked one of the employees at the shelter if one bag was just one meal. I was really
shocked and saddened to hear that what we were putting in the plastic bags was for
one person for the whole weekend. The amount in that bag is about half of what I
eat for a normal meal. It was absolutely heartbreaking. From that point on, I really
picked up the pace filling up bags, hoping they would have extras and give people
more than just one bag.
Just like the Boys and Girls Club, I learned that I am so lucky to have grown
up like I did. Food was never a problem for my family and me like it is for the people
who get their food from the food pantry. I also learned that the employees working
there don’t have much either, but they were working their butts off to provide food
for those who are worse off than them and can’t afford even a basic meal.
The Northeast Food Bank is another outstanding organization. After my
experience volunteering there, I definitely realized how they put in so much time
and effort to do what they do, and most receive no pay, or very little pay. They do it
out of the kindness of their heart, which is truly amazing and humbling. There is no
glory there, just people helping people because it’s the right thing to do.
I definitely have a different view of myself after this experience. When I say I
am starving, there is no way that I won’t be able to get some kind of food and it
usually is something that I choose to eat. But when some people say it, they might
not get food for another couple of days and they are happy to have just about
anything to stop the hunger. I now know how lucky I am to have never had to
experience that. In the future, I want to help these people so I can consider myself as

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someone who always puts others before themselves, not for the pride in it, but for
just knowing that someone is no longer hungry; at least for a few days.
These four hours of volunteering were pretty life changing for me, and added
a great deal to my definition of civility. My original definition was, “To think of
oneself as members of a society that transcends the individual.” Some things I can
add to this after my experiences are that happiness can come in the easiest of ways,
that spending your free time helping others instead of just for yourself is rewarding
for everyone, and that doing the things that most of society doesn’t want to do can
strengthen, support, and serve us all. With all that said, my new, revised definition
of civility is, “To do things for other members of society that bring happiness and
lend a helping hand to those who need it most, therefore strengthening our society
as a whole.”
This was definitely a great experience for me. I had never really seen the “sad
and dark” part of society before, but in only four hours of volunteering, it was
brought right in front of me and stared me right in the eyes. I was more than willing,
and actually grateful, to help those in need and put a smile on their face. In the
future, I plan on doing more things like this, as it really is something I enjoy and now
understand is something that I can learn from. The world is a better place because
of organizations like the Cedar Valley Boys and Girls Club and the Cedar Valley
Northeast Food Bank. The smallest amount of help each of us can give to these
organizations is multiplied many times over by the help and hope our service gives
to others.