As part of our ongoing evaluation process, we've asked the parents of our interns to give us feedback on how their child has changed over the course of the program.

Here are some of their responses:

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"[My daughter] is more responsible, more independent, and very interested in helping out others. She puts more effort in now. She didn't know there were so many people in need and now she wants to do more. She has a better awareness of other people's lives and problems. It's such a good program."

"[My son] has more confidence now, especially with getting up in front of people. He definitely is more aware of vegetables -- he eats more of them! And he's more aware of what it takes to grow food. I'd say one of the greatest benefits has been a greater appreciation of earning his way, working with different types of people, and learning how to interact with people. He has more patience now. The program exceeded my expectations. Overall, I was just wowed."

'[My grandson] knows what he wants to do now. He wants to go to college for sure... The greatest benefit for him was learning how to communicate with other people. Also, I don't think it ever dawned on him that there are people out there, like those he saw in shelters, who have a hard time... It opened his eyes up, made him realize there are people who aren't taken care of like he is. It's the real world.

"I was absolutely, totally impressed by the whole program. I was there the night they all gave the speech to the mayor and city council and I thought it was fabulous. I was a teacher for years and that night I saw all of these kids who were probably really shy and unable to speak in front of people before, but a difference has been made in them. It really made a difference within [my son]. He really kept things inside before. He comes from a home and a church community where this is stressed, but the way in which you provide a job and, in addition to that, stress community service to your fellow man is just incredible. I can't say enough about it... it's a wonderful, wonderful program."

"[My daugher] is actually able to speak in front of people now and is more outgoing. It's built her personality up. She's converted to vegetarianism and is always educating us about what we should be eating. She just loved the program so much and now she wants to start some kind of similar program in her school to help other kids."

"[My daugher] is much more outgoing; her independence has been delivered to her. Ever since me and her father divorced, she took it the hardest of both of us. I could never get her to open up and I have seen my little girl, who has always been in a cocoon, have the butterfly emerge. It's beautiful... she would come home every day and talk about Beth and Maggie and Patrick and Catherine and 'we did this today and we did that today and I can't wait to go back tomorrow.' To have someone come home every day, so happy -- happy with themselves and with a feeling of accomplishment, 'I made someone else smile today'... she loved Mission Clarksville. She loved working in the fields and seeing the fruits of her labor. I think that every single one of their lives was touched in one way or another."

"Since the summer program, [my daugher] has contacted numerous organizations to volunteer and help out, has spoken to several classes about her experience -- her whole attitude has changed. I think the biggest benefit is that, although we don't live in the best area or the best home, she realizes that there are people out there who are much less fortunate than her. When [your program] touched her the way it touched her, then it touched me in that way too. She's opened my eyes to a lot too."

'[My son] is a good kid who rarely gets in trouble, so the times he was corrected was humbling and it was good for him to learn from the feedback. We were able to have some good conversations at home about that. I think one of the greatest benefits he took from it was a sensitivity and awareness that his coworkers came from some difficult situations... it showed him how fortunate we are, what a blessing it is to have the life he has. It also made him more aware of others' plights, concerns, and needs."