‘It’s an honor that I get to do this’: Renea Tuck makes meals happen with gratitude
In the last year, Renea has become one of The Food Bank’s most dedicated volunteers, showing up every week to sort donated food for distribution to our hunger-relief network. She started because her son, Nolan – Ozarks Food Harvest’s very own janitor – suggested Renea give her extra time at The Food Bank now that she’s retired.
“He wouldn’t take no for an answer,” said Renea. “I was so happy that he didn’t.”
Now, Renea looks forward to the positive atmosphere and friendly faces each week, but most of all she loves the chance to help families and seniors across southwest Missouri. Renea’s mother is one of those seniors.
“My mom was able to qualify for [Ozarks Food Harvest’s] Senior Food Box program in our hometown, Lamar,” she explained, “One of the first times she received her Senior Box almost made me cry. She was like a child at Christmas. My mother is widowed, and [the Senior Food Box program] just means so much to me because I live almost two hours away. I was like, how can I show my appreciation for that?”
Renea has more than shown her appreciation, giving more than 140 volunteer hours at Ozarks Food Harvest since she started. She gives back because it’s the right thing to do – and because she knows what it feels like to get help when the budget is tight.
When her kids were young, their family lived on one income while Renea was a stay-at-home mom. There were a few times when Renea’s mother bought the family groceries to fill the gap.
She shared, “There was a time when I didn’t feel like we could buy things like juice, but that’s the closest we came to being hungry. I was always taken care of. It hurts me to think that people go hungry, and if there’s anything I can do to help, then that’s why I volunteer here.”
Renea said that volunteering has become a source of joy and gratitude for her – and, of course, an opportunity to give her son a hug every time she’s at The Food Bank. Her big heart for family, friends and neighbors is why we’re grateful to have a volunteer like Renea, too.
Every volunteer makes a big difference. If you want to get involved, visit ozarksfoodharvest.org/volunteer to learn more.