Pam Moffitt returns the favor: ‘Now I can give back what I received in the past’
Pam Moffitt has a lot of empathy for the neighbors she’s helping by volunteering at Ozarks Food Harvest. When asked why she donates her time, Pam answered, “Because myself and my husband have experienced hunger. We’ve had empty cupboards, and we’ve had to make the decision between diapers and food for ourselves. We’ve been given food boxes, and that’s what helped us survive.”
It’s been a long time since Pam and her family accepted help from the women’s aid society at the military base where they were living. At the time, the couple was having trouble making ends meet as a young military family with a new baby, and they didn’t qualify for food stamps. “[The women’s aid society] actually found us,” shared Pam. “One day, my husband came home from work with a big box of food that fed us for a week. It absolutely made a difference. It happened once or twice but it was just enough to get us by and fill the gaps until the next paycheck.”
Now retired, Pam volunteers with Ozarks Food Harvest two to three times a week, giving others the same kindness she received years ago. She and her husband originally volunteered at Ozarks Food Harvest with their church group, but Pam found a passion for the mission that keeps her coming back on her own. Although she prefers to make a difference behind the scenes sorting and packing food at The Food Bank, she also recently became one of Ozarks Food Harvest’s newest Volunteer Ambassadors. She hopes the new responsibilities will get her out of her comfort zone so she can share the importance of hunger relief with the community – because, while Pam says she doesn’t know the solution to ending hunger in southwest Missouri, she does know that each volunteer makes a difference.
“I’m not a deep thinker,” she explained. “I’m a doer. [Volunteering] is so satisfying because hopefully it’s making a difference in that one person’s life so they will then be able to turn around and give back also.”
We are so grateful for Pam and the compassion she has for her neighbors facing hunger. With her time and kindness, she is helping Ozarks Food Harvest provide crucial meals to thousands of children, families and seniors in southwest Missouri. We couldn’t Transform Hunger into Hope without volunteers like Pam. If you’d like to help make a difference, consider donating your time at ozarksfoodharvest.org/volunteer.