Describe a time when you did some volunteer work

Last winter I spent several weekends volunteering at a charity that collects and distributes food to elderly people who live alone. A friend of mine had been involved for some time, and she asked if I could lend a hand during the busy period before the New Year holidays.

The charity is based in a small warehouse on the outskirts of my city. On Saturday mornings, about a dozen of us would arrive at nine o'clock to sort donations into boxes: rice, tea, tinned fish, oil, and so on. After that, we split into pairs and drove around to deliver the parcels to people in different neighbourhoods. I worked with a retired teacher called Mr Karimov, who had been volunteering for years and knew every address by heart. He also taught me how to talk to the people we visited, which was really valuable.

I found the experience hugely rewarding. At first I was a bit nervous because I wasn't sure what to say, but the people we met were so warm and grateful that I relaxed quickly. One elderly lady insisted on giving us tea and told us stories about her youth for almost an hour. It made me realise that our visit mattered as much as the food, because many of them don't see anyone for days. I felt that I was making a small but real difference, and it helped me appreciate how fortunate I am. I've since signed up to volunteer once a month, because it's a way of giving something back to my community.