Recently, I went and donated to the school supply drive on campus. 

I had seen various boxes for it around campus and also got an email regarding it. I donated the first Wednesday of school at the Starbucks location. 

When I donated, there was nothing in the box. Trying to have a positive mindset, I thought, “Perhaps the donations are retrieved daily.” 

Well, my hope for humanity was cut short when a week later, my supplies were still sitting in the box.

I began my own investigation.

 Each box that I went to on campus was empty. I was, and still am, quite outraged. 

Of the thousands of students on campus, I am the only one who donated. Is this real? 

While I understand that everyone may not have something to give, I am positive that someone other than myself does.

The email even stated that supplies did not have to be new; they could be gently used. 

How often do we buy new binders during the semester or buy extra paper or pens or even have old colored pencils and crayons lying around? All of which could be donated.

These donations are not solicited for no reason or out of greed; they are asked for because children need them.

Some children are obviously less fortunate than others. 

Yes, most college students are “poor” but these children are struggling for school supplies. College students work through college for extra money and sometimes to help pay for college.

 These children cannot do that. Their parents most likely live on the basics. They may not have new clothes or new shoes, but they also may not have the supplies needed to excel academically. 

While I don’t ask anyone to go out and buy them new clothes or shoes, it is not too much to ask to donate some extra paper or pens or even an old backpack we have laying around. 

We expect the youth to change the world, but we cannot even change our own selfishness.

On a much larger scale, many charities that ask for donations are also overlooked. 

There are often fundraisers at restaurants where you can donate a dollar to help a cause. Whether the cause is hunger or a child who needs surgery, that single dollar is important. 

As humans, we have trouble seeing a bigger picture at times. We may think: “How could this one dollar help anyone?” 

Well, your one dollar along with the donations of many other people could buy fresh water and food or could pay for part of a child’s surgery. 

The value of a dollar has not decreased; the value of humanity has.

When I donated those supplies, I never once thought of the good of myself. Never once did I think that I would be blessed or that a good thing would come to me. I did not think of me. 

When I donate, I think of the grateful faces of those children. 

Whether they are getting school supplies, fresh water, food or a needed surgery, my small contribution played a big part. 

We hear about world hunger and we hear about tragedies, but this is not where the most help can be given. The most help can be given right here to our community. 

Even if you moved here for college, this is now your community. 

It may not be your home or your heart, but it is your community and you are a bigger part of it than you think. 

Many people want to cure cancer or find world peace. Yes, I also wish for these things. But let’s think of the small things. 

Every day we take so many things for granted; things that people would die for. 

Sometimes it is the small things that matter the most.