Along with blooming flowers and April showers, it is time once again to celebrate National Volunteer Appreciation Month!
Inter-Faith Food Shuttle has so many reasons to celebrate. Across all our programs during the last year, Food Shuttle volunteers provided more than 1,800 hours of service. In our mission to feed, teach, grow and cultivate a hunger free community, Food Shuttle volunteers have made it possible by assisting in education programs, packing nutritious meals, growing food to feed our neighbors, and building relationships with those in need.
National Volunteer Week was instituted in 1943 in Canada to honor the women who collected supplies and tended wounded soldiers during World War II. The commemorative week debuted in the United States in 1974. Since them, the week-long event has expanded into an entire month of special activities set aside to recognize the individuals who give their time and talent to myriad organizations during National Volunteer Appreciation Month.
This year, the Food Shuttle kicked off the month with an offering of sweet treats for volunteers building garden boxes for Gardens for Everyone. Community Garden Manager Jason Maraveyias assured us this was much appreciated! Yummy snacks were also made available to show our gratitude to our volunteers packing Grow-At-Home kits. On Monday, April 18, the Food Shuttle Farm’s core volunteers came indoors for a change and got an inside look at the workings of the Food Shuttle warehouse and Spinning Plate food truck.. There was also a drop-in social in the Volunteer Hub for core volunteers who generously give their time in administrative tasks, Cooking Matters, Grocery Bags for Seniors, interns, and the Board of Directors throughout the year. On April 26th, both Geer Street and Camden Street Learning Gardens’ regular volunteers were thanked for their many hours of service with fresh coffee and bagels, served up by Community Garden Coordinators Mikey Cristiano and Laura Maule.
The Volunteer Services Team hosted a food drive the week of April 18th at the Malone Center warehouse. Many of our volunteers helped to manage and handle all the food drop offs that came their way. New volunteer t-shirts were distributed to core volunteers and Board members, and throughout the month, Food Shuttle staff members took selfies holding a “WE ❤ VOLUNTEERS” sign to showcase their incredible spirit of appreciation for our indispensable volunteers.
With each every volunteer, we are better equipped to serve those in need. We would love to have you join us as we work to strengthen the lives of our neighbors. We are grateful for the wonderful community that enables us to do what we do, and for this opportunity to celebrate our volunteers. For more information on volunteering at the Food Shuttle , visit our website to join us in the mission to feed, teach, grow, and cultivate a hunger free community.
