Today I met some of the hands, feet, and hearts feeding the hungry in our community. Did you know that Share’s Summer Meal Program will have fed about 30,000 people in Vancouver by the end of summer? One of Share’s newest recruits, our Operations Manager Harold, invited me to visit the food prep portion of the Summer Meal Program, and it is impressive. One of the first things I noticed when I walked in was the sea of coolers.
They prepare hundreds of nutritious meals, Monday through Friday, at a local school. From that point, the meals are shipped out to various locations in our community to be served that day. I found it interesting that they also pay attention to the food cravings of those they serve. They care about delivering a meal that will put a smile on a child’s face. In fact, the vast majority of the recipients of these meals are children. During the school year Share operates their Backpack Program which sends a bag of food home with kids on Friday to help supplement their families’ food needs through the weekend. During the 2012/2013 school year, over 50,000 bags of food were sent home; 50,000! The Summer Meal Program helps bridge the gap for these children while they are away from school. Here is our happy volunteer:
One of the faithful volunteers encouraged me to look at a thank you sign that was made for them, and one note in particular had me holding back the tears.
As a mother, I am so appreciative of the people who make a positive investment in my children’s lives and feeding a hungry tummy tugs my heart strings. Here’s another note from an appreciative recipient.
What a positive note of affirmation. It is so easy to volunteer. Today I met a diverse group ranging in age from teens to a retiree. They welcome a servants heart to help, and interested persons can find out more information about volunteering at http://sharevancouver.org/share-summermeals/. You can also see the list of meal locations here: http://sharevancouver.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/14SLAM_Locations1.pdf
Want to make a difference? Share provides the catalyst for you to touch a life.
Heather
Administrative Support
Wendel Family Dental Centre
*Please note, I am not an employee or volunteer of Share and the thoughts expressed in this post are purely my own and not endorsed by Share or its affiliates.
