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Co-Workers Build Friendship and Find Purpose While Volunteering

Co-Workers Build Friendship and Find Purpose While Volunteering

February 5, 2019 in Harvest Time Newsletter Volunteer Spotlight

Twice a month, a group nicknamed the “Peritoneal Dialysis Packers” spend their evenings volunteering at Ozarks Food Harvest.

Debbie, Melissa and Sally met through work at the Ozarks Dialysis outpatient department at CoxHealth. The hospital encourages its employees to regularly give back to the community. Debbie began volunteering several years ago, and shortly after, she asked her co-workers to join her in the fight against hunger.

Sally believes that volunteering with her co-workers has brought them closer and given them a chance to relax outside of work.

“We’re working together to help those in less fortunate circumstances. The camaraderie in this low-stress environment helps decrease our job-related stress levels,” she said.

During each volunteer session, the ladies pack boxes of nutritious items for the Senior Food program and bags for the Weekend Backpack Program.

Sally, who has recently retired from her career at CoxHealth, is “so glad that volunteering in the community was encouraged among leaders” in her workplace. She also believes her perceptions of hunger have shifted since she began volunteering at The Food Bank.

“The entire concept of people not having food, even enough for the weekend, was hard for me to deal with. Volunteering has made me much more aware of the incredible number of people in our own community who are food poor. It also allows me to help in a small way,” she said.

Since 2014, the group has given more than 500 hours of time to The Food Bank. We are so thankful for their compassion and desire to help.

Are you and your co-workers interested in volunteering at The Food Bank? Apply and self-schedule at ozarksfoodharvest.org/volunteer.