A couple of weeks ago, I took a day and volunteered my time. Let’s just start with: it was an extraordinary day…
About two years ago, Carl had signed up, through his company (United States Golf Association), to volunteer at the Community Food Bank of New Jersey in Hillside. He came home with such fulfilling stories of knowing his service was helping others. At the time, their group did such tasks as putting together food packs for school kids to take home on the weekend so they wouldn’t go hungry. He also spoke of on-site cooking classes to teach viable skills for employment as well as (I’m hoping) promoting healthy eating.
So with that stuck in the back of my mind, when the opportunity came again, I asked if I could come along and assist in anyway needed. Once it was okayed with Jennifer and Melissa who organized the event, I was ready to get busy!
On our drive to the facility, I started thinking how astonishing it is that anyone should go hungry in this country. My understanding is that we have a huge capacity to produce so much food—even during these tough times. And that made me sad that we don’t seem to. In light of that, while many are still are trying to get themselves onto more solid financial footing, putting food on the table shouldn’t be an issue. As frustrating as I find some of my days, there are those in even more dire straights.
We arrived to discover the USGA volunteer group had about 15 ready and willing to get to work. We were oriented by a gentleman name Omar. He was so upbeat and positive with a fun sense of humor. After working there for around 26 years, his passion seem to flow from the well that every day is a blessing. Maybe if more people felt the same same way, there would be more compassion out there…
In the morning we were organized to sort through multiple pallets (donated from various companies) into boxes that were then labeled for further distribution. By our lunch break, we collectively put together 5 giant pallets of canned goods, condiments, spices, pet food, shampoo, laundry detergent, toilet paper, etc. If I’m remembering correctly, it was in upwards of several thousands of pounds of supplies ready to be shipped out to local food banks the following day. But before we went off for our break, Omar introduced us to a group of high school students also volunteering their time that day. Awesome on them to do that! And it was fun to learn they were from their schools golf team—go figure the chances of that!
After we ate lunch, we were sent to the “clean room” to sort from giant boxes of easily 400 hundred pounds of elbow macaroni into 1 or 1-1/4 lb. bags (the other half of our team went to a separate station to do another type of pasta). We were just short of finishing our pallet when it was time to leave. Between our group and the other one doing pasta, I’d like to think that with the addition some lean meat and vegetables, we easily fed over a thousand families with at least one meal!
While weary from a long day, my heart was fill with the very satisfying knowledge I was helping people and their families who need a hand up. Omar also mentioned that their mission is also for those going through hardship to know that they are not forgotten—there are people out there who care. Outside of going thirsty, I can only imagine going hungry can be just as bad.
So with that in mind, I hope this story inspires other to donate time to local food pantries, animal shelters, or other charities of your choice/passion!
