Volunteers are essential to the Foodbank’s hunger-relief efforts. We couldn’t do this work without them! Inspecting donated food in the volunteer center, helping hunger-relief partners in our warehouse, supporting events and working in the office – we can always find ways for volunteers to help. Last year, volunteers helped provide more than 1.3 million meals to the local community by inspecting, sorting and repacking donated food drive items.
But did you know volunteers even pick up donated food from donors and deliver it directly to pantries and hot meal sites in our network? Meet Don and Rick, volunteer drivers, reliable volunteers picking up food for the Community Harvest program every Friday.
For nearly a decade, these retirees have been picking up donated food for the Community Harvest program, the prepared and perishable food rescue program of the Foodbank.
Every Friday, they begin their route at 6am and make nearly two dozen stops rescuing food from Stark County restaurants, supermarkets, event centers and a local hospital.
“I can’t imagine what they would have done with all that food before we started picking it up,” said Ron. “I can’t see people throwing it in the garbage, it’s great food. I would eat it.”
Once all the pickups have been made, Dick and Ron deliver the food to hot meal sites within the Foodbank’s network. The food is typically used that day if it’s already been cooked or can be refrigerated or frozen for future use.
“All you have to do is drive around Canton to see the need,” explained Dick. “You’re making other people’s lives a little better, which makes you feel good.”