Shelby Lam
Community Engagement Coordinator
Every time Wednesday morning rolls around, I get really excited. It amazes me how passionate, energetic, and lively the volunteers (mostly seniors) are despite the fact that the funds are thin and demands for food are high. Even when they run out of food or a record-breaking number of families come through one morning; everyone still greets each other with a gentle smile, full of love and care. The amount of time and effort put into running this food bank stretches everyone physically and yet, week after week, they keep coming back to help.
I was only there for twenty minutes my first time volunteering before the coordinators and leaders of the food bank started telling me how much they appreciated my help and time. They started listing all the names of the people from our church that had helped before and laughed when they couldn’t remember those from years back, even though they could still vividly describe their appearance. “We loved them. You’re going to be just as great,” they said.
Those who drop by to receive food inspire me as well. Most of them wait patiently and cannot thank me enough for filling their bags with food. Although a language barrier exists, they always thank me with sincere hearts and big smiles. An occasional rude client comes by every so often. Those are the moments where I am reminded that this is where they are provided with their basic needs. This is where their hunger is satisfied. This is their last resort.
I have always known that I’ve been “blessed” by God. Being blessed meant occasionally having a car to drive to work or being able to afford expensive materialistic items as a “reward” for surviving my first year of university. That is, until last week. The food bank challenged my thinking that those things even compared to having food on the dinner table. Some clients were ecstatic when I offered a sandwich bag full of chocolate chip cookies. If I was given a bag full of cookies, I don’t even think I’d want to eat them, thinking those were “unhealthy sweets”. I am beyond blessed by what God has given me. I don’t remember that enough.
We, as a church, have already made a huge impact on St. Jude’s food bank. They, as a volunteer-based food bank, still have needs. They need more volunteers. They need more funds. They need all the help they can get to bless our neighbors who have come to rely on the food bank.
Please contact [email protected] to find out more about how to get involved with St. Jude’s Food Bank.