Volunteer Spotlight: James

Volunteers are the heroes of The Food Group. Providing nutritious, culturally connected foods to our communities is possible because of the generous donation of their time.

After we established COVID-19 safety standards in our warehouse, our volunteers were welcomed back to prepare and distribute free and low-cost foods. During the months of March and April, they packed over 20,000 pounds of food for our mobile market and packaged meat and fresh produce distributed to over 1,100 households through our Fare for All program.

Meet James, always wearing a smile (even with the mask), he is a familiar face around the warehouse and has recruited friends and family to volunteer too. Read on to learn more about his connection to The Food Group.

Say hi to James next time you see him in the warehouse. He’s got a different mask for every shift!

How did younfirst learn about The Food Group?

My initialncontact with TFG was at the Food Justice Summit in 2012, where I worked withnthem and other hunger relief organizations to plan and execute an annualnconference. I worked my first Hunger Bash fundraiser for the Food Group in 2016nand have worked every Hunger Bash since. It was actually the Food JusticenSummit where I met Sophia Lenarz-Coy who is now Executive Director of the FoodnGroup!

What makes volunteering meaningful to you?

I am all about giving back and paying it forward. I have worked with countless non-profits over the years and I know that next to monetary donations, donations of time are just as valuable, especially during a crisis like this pandemic. Not only is it about helping others, but it also brings to light issues of hunger that not all are aware of. It definitely puts life in perspective.

What’s yournfavorite part about volunteering?

Ooh, do Inhave to narrow it down? I love to meet new people, so working with othernvolunteers is a bonus. I even try to bring in friends and family when I can.nAnd I really enjoy working with the staff onsite. They are always friendly andnknowledgeable and clearly enjoy what they do!

How wouldnyou sum up your experience in 1 word?

Important

Why isnsupporting your community with nutritious, culturally connected foods importantnto you?

We live inna world where fast food is readily available and affordable and for the mostnpart, not really healthy for you. And we live in a society that is very culturallyndiverse. It’s good to know that TFG is out there addressing both of these areasnof concern in our community and others.

What’s thenmost unexpected item you’ve seen that you packed?

Sardines!

What do youndo when you’re not volunteering?

I am an event planner with Stagetime Productions, whose primary focus is assisting and working with nonprofits in Minnesota and the surrounding areas. We coordinate fundraisers, conferences, outdoor events and more! And when I’m not working – I enjoy time with family and friends, working on my home and garden, and singing with One Voice Mixed Chorus and traveling!

To find out more about current volunteer opportunities and other ways to help, visit our volunteer page.