Volunteering in the Rain
The Central Texas Mobile Food Pantry made its monthly delivery in a trailer able to haul thousands of pounds of food designed to assist underserved communities and reach people that need food in Marlin on Tuesday, July 22, to the parking lots of First Baptist Church. On the day of this mission, it rained. The weather condition was not stable with heavy showers and wind, but the volunteers came, in large numbers, they came!
The group’s intrinsic energy and the desire to volunteer would delight anyone. Volunteers brought their gifts and transformed themselves and the world of our Falls community in emergent ways. It wasn’t easy setting up in the rain. Canopies were erected and tables set up. The pallets of food once unloaded had to be arranged in order and the produce and other canned and packaged foods bagged. Boxed items such as cereals and pasta, especially, had to be protected from the rain.
The work would appear boring and labor intensive, but it is certainly appreciated. A coordinator, that’s Bettye Tarver, logs volunteers and a photographer is assigned for the day. Volunteers use courteous verbal skills and physically stand for long periods of time, bend, stoop and lift at least 25 pounds repeatedly throughout their service. Each volunteer contributes his/her talents: intake coordinators mark on the vehicle’s window the number of families within, while guides direct lanes of traffic in the parking lot and through the pickup lane, direct traffic from one lot to another. Other volunteers guide guests through selecting food for their families, and place food in the vehicle’s trunk, inside the vehicle, or in the bed of a truck. A volunteer is stationed to hand out food separate from the drive-up distribution to walk-up traffic. Another serves water to volunteers. At the end of the distribution, volunteers clean the parking lot, pick up plastics, boxes, and make ready any food leftover to return in the CEntral Texas Mobile Food Pantry truck.
One volunteer put it this way, “Contributing to the community and seeing the happy faces helps me, too, my self-confidence and self-worth.”
Tuesday morning, families and individuals were helped with bags and boxes of fresh vegetables and fruits, meats, canned foods, and breads and pastry goods. They were served by fifteen young and mature adults who were willing to dedicate their Tuesday morning, under constant rain and strong wind, to give their 110 percent to this volunteer mission.
Then there is the host. Jan Smith hosts this volunteer mission. She invites the group, sends the confirmation, makes sure the logistics are communicated clearly, evaluates the safety of the work environment, brings everything that is necessary for the day including water and usually donuts, studies the history of the area for car lines and for individuals without a car. Jan Smith hosts a successful volunteer mission and keeps everyone safe while not wasting people’s time. And the mission is completed, until next month!
After hosting the mission, Jan Smith records the accomplishment, finalizes records with the Central Texas Mobile Food Pantry and communicates her thank yous personally every time she sees volunteers about in the community.
So why volunteer? Volunteering is a powerful way to contribute positively to the well-being and development of the community. Volunteering has been linked to positive health benefits. Being generous with one’s time can reduce stress and make one feel happier. The social connections one forms while volunteering can also provide emotional support, further alleviating anxiety. Regular volunteer work can combat feelings of depression by fostering a sense of purpose and belonging. The act of helping others releases dopamine, often referred to as the “feel-good” hormone.
Did you know that volunteers tend to live longer, healthier lives? This is likely due to the combination of increased physical activity, improved mental health and enhanced social connections. Volunteering allows one to develop a support system among people in the community, especially if one is new to the area (I know about this one), or helps one strengthen existing relationships. Connecting with people with common interests is vital to fighting loneliness and social isolation, as well as finding purpose or feeling life satisfaction, which can physically affect the body.
Volunteering often involves problem-solving and learning new skills, which can help keep one’s brain active and improve cognitive function. Giving back to an organization in our community can help one discover a new hobby, expand one’s skill sets and provide cherished memories. This writer recalls a food giveaway event and, while sorting through the huge bin, finding a one-inch carrot while a nearby volunteer lifted up a bulbous 15-inch carrot! And photographs proved it!
At the end, everyone at the mobile food pantry was wet and tired, but no one complained. They agreed that it was a fun, exciting and fulfilling experience. A volunteer remarked, “Last but not least, [in volunteering] I become more confident. confident in myself, to be able to express my thankfulness for a sense of belonging to this Marlin community.
Indeed, volunteering is not just an act of kindness; it’s a pathway to better health, both for oneself and the community.
The Central Texas Mobile Food Pantry comes to Marlin, Texas, on the fourth Tuesday morning of every month, even if it rains!