The author volunteered at the Butler County Christmas Cheer program, which provides food packages to families in need. They helped assemble boxes with food items like cereal, soup, and laundry soap and load them into cars. While most recipients were grateful, some just replied with short responses like "yep" when thanked. This surprised the author but reminded them that people are dealing with hard battles and to maintain a good attitude when helping others. The program shows that the community cares for those living there by donating food and local businesses provided coupons to further help families in need. The experience reinforced that there are always opportunities to help others.

1. Katherine Rinken
Cornerstone
Civility
December 14th, 2014
Butler County Christmas Cheer
For this assignment my friend Avery and his little brother and I went to the Butler
country visions of welling being food pantry. We put boxes together for their Christmas cheer
program and then loaded them up into cars for those who came and picked them up. All
packages included things like cereal, soup, noodles, laundry soap, and many many other things.
The number of people in your family depended on who got what size of package. Those with less
family members got less items and those with more family members got packages with more
items in them.
I chose to help with the Butler County Christmas Cheer program because Avery said he
had been helping at it for the last 4 years and it is really a fun thing to do. I also thought that it
really important work to be giving out food to others. I also liked doing the similar thing in Des
Moines when I was in high school. I am glad that I volunteered there because I met a lot people
and they were so happy when we were able to give them the packages.
When I was in highschool we were required to get a certain number of volunteer hours
and I remember working at the food pantry in Des Moines was one of my favorite places to
work. I liked working there because I got to see how happy people were when we were able to
give them the food packages. They were stressed out about feeding their family and they could
relax a little when they got what they needed. I also learned then not to judge a person by the
kind of car they drive or what they wear. Just because they might have a nice car, doesn’t mean

2. they are not in need. I thought by volunteering here I would feel the same and it would remind
me of home. I thought the people would be happy when we gave them what we needed and be
appreciative and in a better mood.
I was reminded of home when I was volunteering and that part was very nice, but the
people who I gave the packages to didn’t really say thank you at all and didn’t really seem that
happy. When I would try and make conversation with them on the way to their car they kind of
brushed it off. I was surprised. Don’t get me wrong, there were some that said thank you and
returned my Merry Christmas with a cheerful one back, but more than one person just replied
with a monotone “yep”. That kind of made me sad. Since reflecting on what I experienced I
have learned that even though they might not have been so happy or said thankyou, I know they
will be happy for what the received. They are probably dealing with a lot of stuff that I don't
even know. So the fact that they didn’t see, happy, that is ok. It reminded me of the a saying I
heard once: be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. All I can do is keep a good
attitude and try to help others.
I actually look at Butler County as a county who really does care about their people living
in it. The Christmas cheer program is something extra and they in no way have to provide this
extra help at the time of Christmas but they did and that is really great. It also made me see that
the community really cares about those who live there because they donated all the food.
Another thing that is really cool is that everyone who got a package was given some coupons to
use at the small business around town. That was really nice of the small business owners to
provide for the families. as well as small business gave out coupons to help those people in need.
This reminded me that even though I am not in Des Moines, I still have the opportunities
wherever I am to help others out and that is really nice. There are always opportunities to help

3. out all over and if I am willing, I can do a lot of good. As I mentioned before, keeping an attitude
even when others don’t, is a huge thing. Even though someone might be having a bad day, we
never know what they are dealing with so if I can make their day better I should. That saying is
something that I myself need to remember when dealing with others.
Before this assignment I would have taken google’s definition of civility as normal
politeness and courtesy in behavior or speech. But after reflecting over my experience, I would
say civility as courtesy and not knowing others are going through, but helping them no matter
how they treat me back. Being polite and understanding and doing whatever I can to help make
someone's situation or day a little better.