492,000 people, on average, are served yearly by the Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank that originated in 1981 (“Serving Local”). On December 19th, 2015 The Arc Board of Muskegon sponsored a Food Truck that would take place in Downtown Muskegon at the Parmenter O'Toole Building. Having a food truck allows people in need to get what they need to survive. This also allows people in the community to volunteer their time to serve people.
My mom and I arrived downtown. We signed up to volunteer and then waited to be told what to do. The event was not very organized and it was not easy to identify a leader. While we were standing around waiting to be told what we needed to do, I was observing my surroundings. I noticed multiple groups of
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people huddled. At first I was confused why they were standing around, not looking to help unload the truck, but soon realized these were some of the people waiting to be served food. They had come over an hour early. They were at an advantage by getting there early because the first ones to sign up are the first ones to receive the food. Their ticket number corresponds to the order they signed up. Soon, my mom and I were assigned to work at the Gatorade station.
We were told that 98 people had signed up to receive food. We calculated the number of Gatorade's we had and then divided that evenly. We ended up giving each person 16 gatorades. We had to take the gatorade out of the packaging and put them into plastic meijer bags. On this day, there were many volunteers, more than normal we were told. So, we set up an assembly line type organization to have the highest efficiency possible. Once that job was finished, we moved onto the potatoes. The potatoes were packaged already so we just needed to take them off the truck and place them on the table to people to pick …show more content…
up. “Tickets 1-20,” I hear being shouted by who seemed to be the leader. This meant the first 20 people were allowed to start through the line. As people started walking through the line, I began to pass out the gatorade. I stayed at the station taking them off the truck and placing them on the table to be taken by the people. The people came prepared to carry their food through the line. Many came with laundry baskets, cardboard boxes, duffle bags, or suitcases. As I handed the bags of gatorade many people said thank you. They seemed very appreciative to be receiving this food. I noticed many of the people would not make eye contact. I think this was because they were embarrassed to be needing the assistance with food. Part of volunteering at a food truck is handing out food, but also part of it is helping the people carry the food around to all the stations and to their car. Yes, most people did have cars. A few times, when I saw older people who looked to be struggling to carry everything, I offered to help them get through the line. They were thankful and always excepted my offer. While going through the line I was able to see all the food that was being given outl. The food included potatoes, gatorade, apples, sausage links, cabbage, yogurt, chicken, pop tarts, and onions. We were told by the recipients many times that this was considered a good truck. After about 45min of solid people coming through the line, we were told we needed to divided up the gatorades into smaller portions due to more people continuing to come and sign up. This is were getting there early became a huge advantage. The people at the beginning who came and waited in the cold before we began received 16 gatorades. The ones who waited and came later only received 4. This seemed unfair to me at first and bothered me that some of these people would not be given the same amount of food until I realized they had to wait longer. So, it was fair. Ultimately, the earlier you come, the more food you are guaranteed to receive. About the time I was informed to start dividing the bags of gatorade to give smaller portions to each person, a large family with 5 young and teenage kids showed up. Thoughts were racing in my mind. Can I give this family more gatorade? If I only give them 4 gatorades, that is not enough for each person to even have one. I quickly made the executive decision to give this family 3 bags of gatorade, so 24 bottle. I was overcome by this feeling to help this family. After everyone signed up had been through the line, anyone who wanted to go through again was allowed to take anything that was leftover. On December 19th, I served 118 people. Throughout the day, many questions surfaced in my mind. Have these people been coming to food trucks throughout their entire lives? What happens to these people when the food truck doesn’t have nourishing food for meals? Do these people have homes? What do they do when they don’t have a food truck to get food from? How many people are being fed off this food? Are they feeding their entire family? Do they live alone? What causes these people to start needing assistance getting food? Looking back on the experience, It makes me realize how fortunate I am.
My family is blessed with many things most of these people I served will never have. We have the luxury of going to Meijer on a weekly basis and buying everything we need and want. I, along with most people, take these things for granted until you attend an event like this. When I choose this event, I was thinking it would be rewarding to serve these people, especially around the holidays. I have volunteered for a few other organizations similar to this including Catholic Charities, breakfasts sponsored by Churches, and Kids Food Basket. I realized that all of these organizations provide food to families in need. At Catholic Charities we made baskets for Thanksgiving Dinner. I never met the people or saw them receive their baskets which is what differentiates this from the food truck. At the food truck, I was able to see the people directly. Of course, at the breakfasts I was able to see the people directly as well. I walked around pouring drinks for all the people. Kids Food Basket is similar to the Catholic Charities, in the sense that I did not see the Kids directly. I packaged the dinners that would be handed out to Kids in need the next day day at school in our own Muskegon
community. Attending this event opened my eyes to the amount of people living miles away from me who struggle with food insecurity. In our culture, it is a social norm to help people. Whether it be volunteering at an event similar to this, helping jump a strangers car when their battery dies. I was able to help people receive food they need for survival. Also part of our culture, is people who need the assistance. We would not have these traveling food trucks if it was not a prevalent part of our culture and society today. This tells me that in our culture or society today, many people are in need of food, but many people are also willing to help these people. After researching the Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank, I was able to find lots of interesting facts. The trucks are sponsored by various organizations (“Serving Local”). On average these trucks, cost about $800.00 (“Serving Local”). The food on these trucks comes from farmers who have bumper crops, manufactures who have misprinted packaging, wholesalers who have transportation problems, and restaurants and stores that over-order (“Serving Local”). The Food on these trucks is a random variety of fresh produce, meat, dairy, frozen goods, and nonperishable goods depending on what is donated (“Serving Local”). In 2014, the #1 donor Feeding America was Walmart/Sam's (“Serving Local”). As a company, they donated 3,516,005 products to the food bank (“Serving Local”). In Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley, the society would never need to rely on Food Truck. With so much control governing their daily lives they are not given the same freedom to choose their life the way we are in America. As Americans, we are able to choose if we want a job, the type of job, and how we spend our money. In any society, giving people this amount of power will causes some people to fall into hard times. In Wild, by Cheryl Strayed, Cheryl would have been someone who needed assistance with getting food at the beginning of the book. The path that she has chosen in life, full of drugs and bad choices would lead to this. However, after she traveled the trail and changed her behaviors, I believe she would have acted as a selfless person and volunteered at the food truck. According to 2014 studies, in Muskegon county 59.5% of students are eligible for free or reduced lunch (“Students Eligible”). That is more than half of Muskegon county students. With a statistic showing this many children are living with food insecurity, it surprises me to know that only 118 people came out to the Food Truck. Although not many people came, I am glad that I was able to help the people who did. If given the opportunity, I would volunteer at a food truck again.
Kawartha Food Share distributes meals, and emergency care needs to over 7,000 people every month. The food share has continuingly been supportive to the needy for 15 years. While this is the case, the City and Country of Peterborough and its 37 member agencies served 6.5 million dollars worth of food over the years! Kawartha Food Share is 15000 sq. foot warehouse and is rented, so even being a non-profit organization, has to pay rent. This ranges from four city food banks, six housing projects, four meal programs, etc.
Locally, Feeding the Valley Food Bank is preparing for their grass roots movement, Empty Bowl to help feed the hungry. Kids locally are being effected by hunger and lack of funds, so the day is a wonderful opportunity to eat all you can for a great deal. The benefits for Empty Bowl will go towards the food bank and their
The food bank specifically serves residents of the central and northeast Missouri counties who qualify for food assistance based on low income and additional factors. Those in need are able to receive the food that the food bank distributes through partner non-for-profit agencies. The food bank is located on Vandiver Drive in C...
This past summer, I acquired an internship at Baldwin and Lyons, an insurance company in Indianapolis. Every Wednesday during my internship, a couple of employees and I would participate in a prodigious community service project, Meals on Wheels. Throughout the three months that I worked at Baldwin and Lyons, I got acquainted with some of the individuals whom we delivered to. These inspiring individuals were so grateful and appreciative that we took time out of our day to volunteer to do such a service. One elderly woman who we delivered to would sing to us as she came to the front door “good meals, good meals, good meals.” She is one woman that I will never forget. First going into this, I was elated knowing I was I getting out of the office for a few hours. I did not comprehend the fulfillment I would receive from delivering meals to the elderly and disabled. But I am pleased and proud of the work that I have done for Meals on Wheels. There is no better feeling than doing something for someone else and seeing such gratitude for something so simple. Acts 20:35 says, “In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Peterson). In an effort to revisit and make a difference in my community, I have arranged that over Thanksgiving break, I work Monday through Wednesday delivering for Meals on Wheels of Central Indiana.
Volunteering at the food bank was an interesting experience. While I was working, I did have time to reflect on the things I was seeing. There were lots of observations to be made. The first thing that caught my eye was the type of people that were volunteering with us. While there was a both men and women helping.
I also recently volunteered at the Cleveland Food Bank by packing lunches for under privileged children and sorting non-perishable foods for those in need. Prior to participating in volunteer services for the day, we were required to watch a video that explains the purpose of the Cleveland Food Bank and why there is a need for continuous support. The Greater Cleveland Food Bank works to ensure that everyone in our communities has the nutritious food they need every day. The mission of the Cleveland Food Bank is to alleviate hunger by providing food and support to community organizations that feed the hungry. Many people depend on the support because of their financial situation, life changes, and possible mental or physical limitations. The Food Bank acts as a storage unit and distribution facility for smaller agencies and organizations such as schools, homeless shelters, churches, and day
The Capital Area Food Bank shares free food as well as information about affordable and healthy eating for families in need ("About Us," 2015). They also connect with families in order to make it easier for them
In 2013 91, 746 food hampers were distributed through the Waterloo region, in a population of 563,000, that means that 16.3% of people in the Waterloo region accessed a food bank at some time in 2013. Having the ability to go to the grocery store is a privilege many Canadians don’t recognize. Even in Canada, may people cannot afford to go to a grocery store every week, many people have to make the decision to have good food for week or pay the rent. Food banks often bring a stigma with the name. Many people say that food banks bring trouble to the communities, that the food banks increase the amount of troubled individuals in the area. Those who use food banks and social programs are just regular people who have fallen on hard times, and just need a little bit of assistance to get back on their feet.
From what was just receiving volunteer hours with Rockdale Emergency Relief by graciously assisting with the preparation of 150 sack lunches daily, opened the door of a returned passion. One after another, I was filling multiple brown paper bags with a sandwich, bag of chips, a Capri Sun, and a healthy fruit snack while preparing to make my rounds for delivery to my assigned neighborhoods within Rockdale County. At each stop, I will never forget the innocent face of each child that waited for this delivery. I felt as if I were driving an ice-cream truck as all the children stumbled over one another running out of their homes towards us, Summer Lunch Program volunteers, with joy anticipating their sack lunches. Questions ran through my head wondering how one could be so ecstatic about what I had prepared in each bag. It was not candy, ice-cream, nor toys, but it was proper nourishment to each growing body reaching for their meal. As an important factor to their daily function, I could comprehend by their eagerness how much this delivery meant to each child and their parents or caregivers, and that made my heart melt. More than 500 children depended on this weekly delivery just within Rockdale County. Unfortunately, there are millions of other
In efforts to eliminate hunger in the Austin Community, Hope Church operates a food pantry that provides food and supplies to local residents within the 60651 and 60644 postal zip codes. The Pantry is operated by a friendly volunteer staff who’s there to be a blessing to others! The hope food pantry is a non-profit organization which distributes food to a variety of community agencies which serve the people in need. Last year alone, over 1 million pounds of food was distributed throughout our community. The hope food pantry also host special events to raise money and food for our community. For every dollar raised, the food pantry can provide ten meals to the needy.
To celebrate this event and to help the ones in need Canadian office organize fundraising for Oakville`s “Fare Share Food Bank” and encourages it`s employees to contribute to a great cause by supporting the organization and donate food in special boxes, which are available in the lunch room.
This anticipated increase is due to Project 66 Food Pantry’s recent relocation to a more central location. The Regional Food Bank has anticipated that the move will result in a significantly larger client base. An increase in client demand requires increased duties for the program director and a need for a volunteer coordinator. Last year the pantry served (average) 939 individuals per month. Project 66 Food Pantry, over the next few years, is preparing for an increase of up to 200% (clients).
I went to the grocery store and got cases of water, bags of bread, and stuff to make the sandwiches. I had finished preparing the bags and each had granola bars, fruit, ham and cheese sandwiches, water, toothpaste, and other hygiene products. My dad and I had arrived outside the homeless shelter and were ready to pass the bags out as we saw the swarm of people. Hundreds maybe even thousands of people gathered sitting in what little shade there was. I knew we had a homeless problem, but not to this extent and the bags I had made were going to make little to no difference on the vast amount of people that had been sitting outside. I was a little disappointed at first to be completely honest because I was not prepared for that many people. If I would have known there would have been so many people I would have made more bags. We drove around the block planning on what we were going to do and saw some tents set up. My dad and I were curious as to what they were, so we got out the car and saw that these people had been giving people food and I walked up to them and asked if there was any way I could help them. These people in the tents were actually an organization called Open Arms Outreach and a few girls scouts. They gladly let us help and we brought a few cases of water and the bags I had made and helped pass them out. The organization Open Arms Outreach
My first shift started on February 21, 2014, there was not a training session or orientation. The majority of the work at the site was something one would do around their own home. As soon as I stepped in and introduced myself to the site supervisor, I was put to work. I started with making juice and filling the container with water. Then I worked with another volunteer putting warning label on boxes to warn people of hot plate. Then it was time to open up and start serving food, I was on desert duty. It was easy, which allowed me to make observations and make mental notes. I noticed the majority of the people vising this particular soup kitchen in Livermore were Caucasian, and varied in ages. There are some that appears to be in their 60s, and a couple groups that appears to be in the low 20s and homeless. Although majority of the customers are homeless, some have a house of their own. Ev...
Helping Hands has helped my family in the past. Several years ago my family was struggling with income and Helping Hands was generous enough to help us pay our electric bill. I chose to volunteer at Helping Hands because I wanted to give back to the program. At the time, it seemed like there was little value in sorting piles of toys but then the manager shared with me that many children would be very happy to receive these toys for Christmas. This one comment helped me to put it all into perspective. Volunteering isn’t about me; it is about playing an active in the community. Bringing joy to families who are suffering, giving hope to the hopeless.