We value the relationships that are built through our Food Shuttle community. Especially when it comes to our supporters. With every gift, our mission grows, which is why we call our sustaining monthly donors “Cultivators.” To shine a spotlight on the loyal and caring spirit of our patrons, we recently spoke with Penny and Dean Morgan, who told us about their history with the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle and what it means to help those in need.
Penny and Dean, newlyweds as of October 2021, have been volunteering for the Food Shuttle since the start of their relationship. They humorously noted that their third date was spent volunteering in Durham, at a food distribution event called Fed Up.
Penny’s history of support for the organization dates back even further. Her friendship with co-founder Jill Staton Bullard began at the organization’s inception. She recalls the early days of bringing pans of food to Jill’s house to help support the work of feeding those in need. She also worked on preparations for the Food Shuttle’s annual event, “Taste of Hope.” While Dean only recently started accompanying Penny to volunteer, he has already been lending a hand with the BackPack Buddies program in Durham.
As to why they volunteer, Dean stated “It is simply the right thing to do. We want to help the community any way we can.” Penny continued by saying of the staff, “The people that work here are always warm and friendly. We love being able to help.” Both Penny and Dean agree they will continue to give their gifts of time and talent to the Food Shuttle for some time to come.
We love the dedication of our supporters in creating a hunger free community here in central North Carolina. For information on joining the Cultivators as a sustaining monthly donor or becoming a volunteer and helping to continue our mission to FEED, TEACH, GROW, and CULTIVATE, visit our website.