The cornerstone of birthday parties; favorite food item at 3am: pizza, something everyone likes. For me, I've gone so far as to pretend to be lactose intolerant to avoid eating it. I hate pizza. Whenever I can, I avoid eating, smelling, or even being near pizza. Don't get me wrong; I love the taste of pizza. Its flavorful cheese and fragrant sauce, melted onto seasoned dough, with a variety of toppings to choose from, actually became my most consumed food growing up. Not by choice, in fact, I couldn't eat anything else. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Living the “American Dream” was a struggle, especially when my two parents were underemployed, working hard labor, and our family lived paycheck to paycheck. Since money was limited, we would save money wherever we could. We had to pay bills and rent, so we saved where it was easiest: food. We ate out most days of the week because it was more convenient than shopping and preparing food. We had limited choices for two reasons: we were strict vegetarians and couldn't afford to go out every day to access more vegetarian options. We have thus become the most loyal customers of Pizzeria da Renzo. Almost every day my father returned after work with a box of pizza in his hand. Pizza, the food everyone loved, became what I couldn't even look at. It took me back to the times when we struggled the most; the times when we were all crammed into the same bed; times when “home” meant something completely different. When I look back, I wish someone had helped us; and that's why when I could, I decided to be the person who helps families just like mine. No other subculture in society is treated as badly as the urban poor. They are often looked down upon for being lazy or entirely responsible for the circumstances in which they find themselves. Living near the city of Chicago, I have witnessed the poverty that is rampant in every part of the city, as well as the stigma associated with the poor. :“Don't give them money, they will only buy alcohol or cigarettes.” The thought of wanting a hot meal or a place to stay is completely overlooked by all who pass for the urban poor. But we can't think like that, it would be too humanizing. We treat the poor as if they were inferior to us; we don't treat them the way human beings deserve to be treated. Coming from a poor background, I can easily identify with the urban poor. Severely shaken by the total disregard for the well-being of the homeless, I take matters into my own hands. I have been actively involved in distributing food to the homeless in Chicago for many years. My friends and I worked with local restaurants to collect the food they threw away every Friday for distribution to shelters and pantries around Chicago, thus feeding those who can't afford a meal. Additionally, instead of participating in the greedy, materialistic madness of Black Friday, every Black Friday my friends and I purchase and prepare traditional Thanksgiving meals to distribute to the homeless in Chicago. Giving and serving the poor on a day saturated with self-indulgence is something I am very proud of and is special and unique only to me. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Volunteering has played such a vital role in my life; it allows me to really make a difference. Today I saw the authorities simply throw.