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Dr. Sunthosh (Sunny) Parvathaneni is a clinical cardiac electrophysiologist at Mercy Hospital. He manages cardiac arrhythmias, implant devices and cardiac ablations. In other words, he specializes in heart rhythm problems. As you might expect, he has a busy schedule, which is exactly why he takes the time to volunteer at Ozarks Food Harvest.

With his knowledge of the human heart, Sunny is very aware of the role nutrition plays in heart and overall health. That’s one reason why, despite frequently working twelve-hour days, Sunny chooses to give time to Ozarks Food Harvest.

“I chose [Ozarks Food Harvest] because giving good nutrition to our patients up front keeps them out of the hospital,” he explains. “One of the reasons I like to come here is because I know that not only am I making an impact when I see people as a patient, I’m also trying to make an impact before they become a patient.”

This thought encourages Sunny to keep coming back to Ozarks Food Harvest and stay motivated in his career. Like many medical professions, Sunny’s job requires a lot of hard work and long hours. Volunteering is how Sunny takes time for himself to prevent burnout, especially because of Ozarks Food Harvest’s positive environment and impactful mission.

“There was a period at my work where there were a lot of fluctuations happening. I could escape when I came [to The Food Bank] because I was able to work here with nobody asking me questions or being negative,” he shares. “I know leaving that I didn’t just come here to help somebody; I helped myself. I helped my spirit.”

Volunteering is important to make our community a more hopeful place. We couldn’t feed thousands of our neighbors in need without the help of volunteers, and we hope to provide an uplifting experience for them in return. To get involved with Ozarks Food Harvest, visit ozarksfoodharvest.org/how-to-help/volunteer.