Service with a smile: seventh graders assist with a long-standing project and prepare for a new one
By: Jeanne Hanigan
On Friday, Feb. 15, a crisp, sunny day off from school, seventh graders Jacob Lawrence and Austin Ostrander found themselves surrounded by Gatorades, crates of them. Instead of indulging in these sports drinks, these teenagers, accompanied by some of their buddies, were packing them at the St. Leo’s Food Connection at 1323 So. Yakima Avenue near downtown Tacoma.
While four of the students worked upstairs in the warehouse, three other friends toiled in the basement kitchen. Although some had never washed a dish at home, they proceeded to scrub pots, pans and even an oven. Shane Murray even tackled the refrigerator, cleaning and then organizing its sparse contents.
These seven seventh graders were fulfilling one of the corporal acts of mercy, and found that they could have fun doing service.
"It makes you feel good to help those in need," said Murray, taking a break from his domestic duties.
Ostrander agreed. "Helping at the Food Connection is 'feeding the hungry,' one of the acts." Hanging out with friends, like Lawrence and Murray, makes the volunteering even more enjoyable.
These young people were not the only ones feeling the service vibe. Two downtown office coworkers, Julie Feser and Carla O'Hearne, had given up their lunch breaks to assist, and plan on volunteering weekly. "We love helping our community," Feser and O'Hearne stated.
And the kids were not the only ones having fun while working. As the conveyor belt carrying food items began moving, Feser quipped, "We're like Lucy and Ethel in the chocolate factory scene."
Despite the joy of giving, The Food Connection Operations Assistant Rene Ried spoke of the significant need in the community. "We serve over 1000 families each week." In addition, Ried spoke of other programs, including those targeting children's needs: backpack, summer and even dinner programs.
To serve all these clients, Ried admits that it takes funds. "We also have a mobile food bank service to Springbrook (Lakewood area). The buses only run once there, and there is no grocery store. It takes money, but Kevin is our money man."
Director Kevin Glackin-Coley agrees. "No donation is too large or small," noting that one of his most memorable ones was from five 3rd graders who did chores around their houses and neighborhoods. Their gift totaled $75, worth its weight in generosity.
But the Food Connection is not the only program down at 1323 So Yakima. A new program, formerly known as Cooking Matters, is now The Smart Food Project, the brainchild of Kendria Dickson, Patient Navigator with AmeriCorps.
As Dickson works with SeaMar Community Health Service, she notes that many clients suffer from chronic health issues who could benefit from healthier food choices. So, coordinating with the Food Connection, she hopes to offer cooking lessons and recipes to those who utilize the food bank.
For example, Dickson envisions a cooking class which demonstrates how to cook lentils. "While people are waiting for the food bank, they can try samples and learn how to prepare health foods."
Dickson also anticipates getting volunteers, such as the young ones she met on Friday, to serve samples and greet clients. She also sees a need for professionals to talk to food bank visitors about various resources, especially those with chronic conditions which could benefit from healthier foods (e.g. diabetes, hypertension, etc.)
On Friday, the teenage volunteers have cleaned the kitchen, and now Dickson looks forward to stocking the shelves and now glistening refrigerator.
Although the St. Leo's Food Connection has been around for over 30 years, and the Smart Food Project is just at the beginning stages, these two programs have two things in common already: an ongoing need for monetary assistance and an openness for willing volunteers.
As the seven 7th graders discovered on their day off from school but day on of service, they could have fun with one another and help others in the process.
If he weren't serving, Lawrence admitted, "I would probably be playing Xbox or basketball." He would also probably need a sports drink to replenish his own thirst after a busy day of activities, but, on this Friday, Lawrence was content to fill and stock the Tacoma food bank with Gatorade instead.