You Can Take the Girl out of the Food Bank...

I’ve been waking up with the sun. My carefully trained circadian rhythm didn’t seem to get the memo. 

“You’re young & unemployed, body! Sleep ‘til noon! I command you!”

I’ve never really been a morning person. I do my best writing at night—late, late at night and do my best draggin’ act in the morning.  And for nearly four years I’ve been draggin’ this act out of bed to do my best to “eliminate hunger and its root causes.”

Eliminate hunger, you say? Yeah right! That’s not possible.

Well actually, Oregon Food Bank seeks to do just that, and I wouldn’t say that they are that far from reaching that goal. They've created an emergency food distribution network that reaches food insecure Oregonians in every corner of the state.  Last year we helped to distribute more than one million emergency food boxes to our neighbors in need.

It take lots of hands to make that happen—lots of talent… lots energy. In my role as a quote-unquote Volunteer Scheduling & Outreach Coordinator, I was given the opportunity to work with hundreds upon thousands of amazing people who were willing to donate a few hours of their time every week or month to sort, pack & move food for hungry Oregonians.

Quick Work from William Aegerter on Vimeo.

Each person was coming to our do-gooder family for different reasons. I watched as people with disabilities blossom through structured socialization. I helped rehabilitate and reintegrate low level criminals. I coached retirees through their transformation to a life of more “leisure,” and helped transplants find their niche in a new community. Each connection strengthening the whole…

I am fully convinced that volunteers are among the best people on the planet—selflessly using their own energy, time and talent for the benefit of strangers in need— goddamn heartwarming, really.

And frankly, it’s hard not to be inspired by all those amazing people working together for a common goal. I suggest anyone interested in getting involved as a volunteer in Portland Metro to check out Oregon Food Bank’s volunteer community. To get involved in one of the many food repack programs, fill out one of the following applications:

Volunteering by yourself? Or with a group of 5 or less? Fill this out for each person:
INDIVIDUAL APPLICATION

Looking to organize a larger group (5+ volunteers)
GROUP APPLICATION

HELPFUL TIP: Filling out applications and following directions makes it easier for volunteer programs large and small to process and make use of the energy that you are offering.

This chapter of my life, however, is slowly closing. I will no longer need to instruct people how to help feed hungry people. It’s bittersweet. The inspiration that this job has given me will undoubtedly last a lifetime. 

Voluntourista, here I come!