Sophia E.

Girl Reporter

Volunteering is something done and enjoyed by people of all ages. This weekend I was able to dedicate a whole day to volunteering at the UCR Botanical Garden Fall Plant Sale. The  proceeds went to the maintenance of the gardens. Although it began to rain, I enjoyed the fresh air and the smell of the trees and wet dirt. Everybody was working as a team and there were good vibes throughout the event.

When I first arrived, I signed in and received my volunteer duty. I was to tally the plants that the shoppers were purchasing and direct them to the cashier. At the beginning of the event, I was surprised at the amount of people that came out to support the gardens. I met succulent fanatics that bought a wheelbarrow full of plants and little kids that only wanted a venus flytrap. There was a large sense of community at the event. By the end of the event, I saw that most people bought succulents and small cacti. Since the recent news about the drought, plants that are drought tolerant have grown widely popular; succulents and cactus are plants that pass these requirements. My favorite plants were the succulents and herbal plants, it was exciting to see the customers aspire to begin their own gardens. Most of the plants that UCR was selling were plants that were grown at the gardens, during the day we learned that this was because the soil was ideal for growing these plants. Other plants that we sold included aloe vera, hydrangeas, and herbs such as cilantro, mint, and rosemary.

My favorite part of the day was when we were thanked for our hard work, as I later felt a great sense of accomplishment. As a Girl Scout, it is very important to give back to our community and many times you don’t have to complete these events through Girl Scouts. This event was done through Key Club, a Kiwanis club dedicated to community service. You can also go online to find exciting volunteering events that interest you. There are many ways that you can volunteer like contacting your local library, animal shelter, community or senior center. You can always contact your local Girl Scout office to find more volunteer opportunities. Always give back when you can.