SERVING TOGETHER

            On Tuesday, April 24, your TN WMU staff spent the morning at Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee packaging food.  In an effort to involve ourselves in local and community ministries, we set out on a mission to be a part of feeding the hungry! 

We were greeted by Second Harvest Volunteer Associate, Ryan Havice.  Ryan welcomed us and led us to the manufacturing department where we worked.  Four of us worked together boxing prepackaged soups while the other three prepared microwave dinner meals.  When we were finished we had boxed up 7,000 entrees that according to Ryan Stanton, Manufacturing Manager would later be shipped to a brand new food bank in Savannah, GA and  made around 500 full meals that would be distributed here in Middle Tennessee.   Ryan S. explained the food processing and packing we had just taken part in was a part of their Project Preserve program, a program that according to their website, works with food vendors and manufacturers to provide quality meals for distribution at food banks all over the United States.  (To learn more about Project Preserve visit http://secondharvestmidtn.org/project-preserve/) 

         We accomplished our tasks at great speeds and ran out of work before our allotted time was up so as a bonus we took a quick tour of the facility.  This was a great addition to our project, helping us to see the overall work of Second Harvest.  All food that enters the warehouse has an eleven day turn around!  We looked around at the massive amounts of food and were astounded at the thought of it being used so quickly! 

All this is possible when people like you and I play a part! Their ministry is dependent on volunteers.  We saw several other volunteers doing everything from food sorting to quality control.  Ryan mentioned they have volunteers of all ages work with them throughout the week and on two shifts a week they can take volunteers as young as seven years old.  That means if you want to bring your RA, GA, Acteens, or Women’s group there is a way for all of you to volunteer! 

We had a great time and would love for you to have the same experience.  If you are in the Middle Tennessee area and would like to be a part of what Second Harvest is doing, checkout the volunteer page of their website at http://secondharvestmidtn.org/act/volunteer/ or call 615.627.1570.  If you aren’t in the local area, check out food banks, or ministries like this in your area. I am sure they are in great need of volunteers just like you.

Where have you volunteered recently? Tell us about your experience!