Food Bank Volunteer Works Hard, Plays Hard, At the Same Time
“It’s not fun weeding,” said Cindy Hunter, “but when you’re weeding with somebody else, it’s a whole different world. It’s fun.” And she would certainly know. Cindy has been volunteering several times a week with The Food Bank’s Full Circle Gardens Program for over a year, not to mention she grew up on a farm. Oh, and did we tell you she has a garden of her own at home, too?
Clearly, Cindy has a lot of experience with gardening. That’s why Ozarks Food Harvest caught her eye when she retired. Along with using her green thumb for good, the main draw for volunteering with The Food Bank is that she has fun, explaining, “I can go out to [The Food Bank Farm], volunteer with people that I enjoy being with, and you’re doing it for the benefit of a community that needs it. It checks all the boxes.”
Helping others is what makes Cindy’s days with Ozarks Food Harvest even better, because she knows that every time she volunteers, she’s helping increase access to fresh produce for our neighbors facing hunger.
She shared, “I know what it’s like to cut a head of lettuce and some tomato and cucumber out of the garden and go inside to make a salad. When we’re out at the garden harvesting, I imagine those people getting that food and how excited they are to see fresh produce. It’s nice to harvest it and know it’s going to people who are truly going to enjoy it – and need it, too.”
When families and seniors experience food insecurity, fresh produce is sometimes not in the budget. Instead, our neighbors facing hunger often have to choose cheaper, less healthy items at the grocery store. Volunteers like Cindy help us plant, grow and harvest fruits and vegetables so local families can keep them on the table when times are tough.
Cindy’s farm and garden experience is a great addition to the volunteer team, but you don’t need any experience to make an impact. Our Full Circle Gardens staff will show you everything you need to know to help out. Your time and effort will make a big difference for people facing hunger in the Ozarks. Like Cindy said, “You know you’re going to work, but you know you’re going to have fun doing it. You’re going to feel good afterwards seeing what you did.”
Learn about all the ways you can volunteer with Ozarks Food Harvest at ozarksfoodharvest.org/volunteer.