Thomas's anthology raises many social concerns. Because the students are involved in providing community service to people who are needy in some way, whether from the deprivation of money, food, shelter, or the lack of empathetic people in whom to confide, the volunteers encounter various social issues. Responsibility, tolerance, and sincerity are crucial for successful service activities. Many of the students are cynical about their service and do not grow from their experiences, while others become aware of issues and concerns of people existing on society's periphery who otherwise would remain remote from their middleclass setting.

Poverty is probably the most widespread problem which confronts students. The volunteers express various reactions to poverty, from empathy to contempt. Some students often feel a smug sense of superiority to the people they are helping as revealed by belittling their homes or criticizing their reliance on foreign languages. Arrogance...