Three Days That Mattered

“Three Days That Mattered”

by Ethan Marcovich, UCC Grade 11 Student (Heading to my Grade 12 this fall!)

I volunteered for two and one-half days during a Food Drive conducted by the Knights of Columbus Blessed Sacrament Council #1412. This was the fourth good drive event I’ve volunteered for since 2022.  This drive, over the span of three days, I helped collect food for families in need. I thought I knew what I was stepping into: organizing donations, carrying boxes, smiling, and saying thank you. And I did all of that. But what I didn’t expect was how deeply the experience would affect me.

It wasn’t just the work. It was the people.

There was an older man who came, not to ask for help, but to offer thanks. He shared how, years ago, the Salvation Army supported him through a winter when he felt like he had nothing left.

“I’ve never forgotten it,” he said. “And I just want you to know — what you’re doing here matters.”

That moment will always stay with me.

It’s easy to see a food drive as just a pile of donations — cans, boxes, jars. But when you’re there, face-to-face with people, when you hear their stories, you realize that every item represents something more. It’s relief. It’s dignity. It’s hope. Sometimes, it’s the difference between going hungry and going to bed with a full stomach.

Working with the Knights of Columbus Blessed Sacrament Council 1412, I felt part of something truly meaningful. I got to witness compassion in action — not in grand gestures, but in the quiet, consistent acts of service that change lives.

By the end of the third day, I was weary and feet hurt.  However my heart and mind were full of gratitude. Grateful for the opportunity to give of myself. Grateful to be part of something that matters. For every bit of effort I gave, I received something in return: perspective, connection, and a deep sense of purpose.

I’ve come to understand that it’s not the size of the job that defines its worth — it’s the impact it has on someone else’s life. And this experience reminded me of the kind of person I want to be: someone who shows up, someone who cares, and someone who chooses to make a difference.