Volunteering ... Who Benefits?

I just participated in a four-hour volunteering session at the Cleveland Foodbank. What is it? Taken from their own website, in a nutshell, the Cleveland Foodbank was founded in 1979 by a group of civic-minded individuals who recognized the urgent need for food for the needy and the large amount of nutricious food going to waste every day.

These individuals from the food industry and from charitable organizations got together and resolved that a single clearinghouse could solicit, collect, sort, and distribute this food in an efficient manner. This has ensured improved operations for local charities in the Cleveland area. They bring in food from donors both private and corporate and redistribute it to centers that feed the hungry.

So what did I do at the Foodbank. Well, today I participated in a process that prepared food in packages for needy families. My work was as simple as this. A group of about 15 of us worked on an assembly line to prepare these packages which consisted of six items, cereal, peanut butter, macaroni, canned fruit, beans, and crackers.

My job was to place a single can of Tio Franco Black Beans into a plastic bag and pass it down the line. It was fun! But, it was work. And, I enjoyed it.

I always meet nice people when I volunteer at the Foodbank and I always feel a sense of accomplishment. The needy individuals who are on the receiving end of the food benefit from the relief that the food brings to them in the form of nutrition. The Foodbank benefits from my help because, no matter how menial my task might be, it is a necessary task that is well planned and well though out. My contribution does matter.

So, I also benefit from the Cleveland Foodbank because they provide me with the opportunity to volunteer. They give me the chance to help others. They allow me to feel important. Thank you Cleveland Foodbank!