It’s a sunny Tuesday afternoon at 1 p.m. Steve Heller, Carol Porterfield, and Mary Morton are gathered in the food bank’s volunteer lounge, catching up on their weekends and gearing up for another shift. The trio, who all started their volunteer journeys at different times, now look forward to their shifts together. They are among our star volunteers, whose dedication and passion for service we are highlighting throughout April as we celebrate National Volunteer Month.
Mary Morton ran her own soup kitchen for eight years and is no stranger to the world of need across the DC region. As a stomach cancer survivor, she wanted to find a less intensive, yet equally fulfilling way to give back. She has been volunteering at CAFB for the past year and says that her favorite part of volunteering is working on the conveyor belt.
“Putting the cans in the boxes is a repetitive movement that feels like meditation,” Mary says. “I can block out the outside world and know that I’m doing a piece of good with my actions.”
Carol Porterfield, who retired from working for the federal government, began volunteering at the food bank to stay active and help her community. She has been volunteering for three and a half years and returns every Tuesday. Carol appreciates the sense of community and the familiarity with the staff, which helps in onboarding new volunteers. The presence of experienced volunteers, like Carol, also aids in integrating new individuals into the volunteer group.
Steve Heller started volunteering in the fall with a friend. He’s retired and gives his time to other organizations across the city. He loves the tangible nature of seeing the food he packs and knowing that it is going directly out into the community.
When asked, what they would say to someone looking to start volunteering at the food bank, all three enthusiastically responded, “Do it!” Citing the ease of signing up, the accessibility of our location and shift hours, and the great volunteer team that supports and assists with any needs, they also noted that the camaraderie among volunteers at the food bank is unmatched.
We wouldn’t be able to provide over 64 million meals across the DMV without the help of volunteers like Carol, Mary, and Steve. Every individual effort combines to help us achieve our mission of getting good food to our neighbors today and paving the way for brighter futures tomorrow.
From volunteering in our warehouse (and maybe catching a shift with this trio) to delivering boxes directly to the homes of seniors across the community, there is something for everyone to do to give back and make a difference!