Giving the Gift of Time

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is recognized as a national day of service. Ahead of the holiday, Harold Washington College student Porsha shares why she volunteers and encourages the City Colleges community to consider making time for volunteer opportunities.

Porsha (second from right) is photographed with other members of the City Colleges community during a volunteer opportunity in November 2025.

Volunteering has always been close to my heart. For me, it’s not just about showing up—it’s about showing up with purpose.

My name is Porsha. I’m a marketing student at Harold Washington College, and I recently volunteered with Fight 2 Feed and City Colleges of Chicago to help provide Chicagoans with meals this holiday season. I first learned about the opportunity through the fellowship program I’m a part of, the Timuel D. Black Fellowship Program, which focuses on leadership and service. I immediately knew I wanted to participate.

Before moving back to Chicago, I spent two years studying in Arizona, where I worked closely with my grandmother at her nonprofit organization. Her organization serves the unhoused population in Phoenix by providing resources, care, and dignity. That experience shaped how I see community and service. This year, because I wasn’t able to be with my family for Thanksgiving, I decided to give back in the same way my grandmother taught me—by volunteering my time.

Once I arrived at the volunteer site, I got straight to work. The volunteers were given gloves, hairnets, and aprons, and then assigned to different stations. Some of us were prepping food, others were cutting chicken, and we rotated every 30 minutes. I loved connecting with other volunteers. Not everyone there was a City Colleges student, which made the experience even more special.

Even though we didn’t personally distribute the food, I still felt connected to the mission. We were told that our work would help feed thousands of people. Knowing we were part of that end goal was incredibly fulfilling.

Volunteering makes me feel proud and honored. Along with Fight 2 Feed and my work with my grandmother’s nonprofit, I also volunteer at my local library. That role connects directly to my career goals in marketing and outreach. My long-term goal is to help build and connect communities by offering resources, support, and education.

I believe volunteering is important because we are all here to help one another. Our purpose in life is to connect, to serve, and to give back—whether that’s a listening ear, encouragement, wisdom, or even laughter when someone needs it most. I hope my story encourages others to volunteer—not for credit or recognition, but to truly help others. When we put our differences aside for a greater cause, we create stronger communities.