What I’ve learned in a year at the Food Hamper Program

After almost exactly a year of working here, today is my last day at the Food Hamper Program. I am sad to leave the staff and volunteers here as I’ve formed some great friendships and learned a lot about the KW community, but I’m looking forward to new adventures, including travelling this summer and going back to school in September.

I’ve learned a lot in the year that I’ve been here. Here are some things I’ll take away from my time.

There is no one kind of person who needs food assistance

I’ve learned that there is no one kind of person that comes to a food bank—there is a huge diversity of people who need food assistance, and they have taken many paths to get here. Many people face barriers to finding work and thus having an adequate income due to discrimination. Perhaps they identify as transgender, are a recent immigrant or refugee, or have a disability. I’ve learned that no one is on social assistance because they’re simply ‘lazy,’ but that there are a multitude of reasons people live in poverty, ranging from the kinds of jobs available to a lack of affordable childcare to health problems. Each person has their own story of why they are at the food hamper program.

The way we treat people living on low income needs to change…now.

I’ve learned that the way social assistance is set up helps no one, and a dollar added to social assistance is more than a dollar saved in other areas. I’ve learned that poverty and health are so closely intertwined that I’m not sure you can talk about one without talking about the other.  Most importantly to me, I’ve learned that eliminating poverty is the logical thing to do, not only from an ethical but from an economic standpoint. It makes far more sense to give people an adequate income and save money elsewhere in the system, especially in the health care and justice sectors. I have hope that others think this way. Though there is a long road ahead when it comes to poverty elimination, there are a lot of dedicated people making very good cases as to why poverty should be a priority for all levels of government moving forward.

I’ve learned all about foods I never knew existed

We receive all kinds of food donations. Before working here I had never seen chayote squash, bitter melon, chinese long beans, or lychee fruit. Now I could tell you what their main nutritional qualities are and how to cook them!

I am disappointed to leave the House of Friendship because it’s an organization I believe in. I’m proud of that the organization has decided to speak up on important issues, and advocate for a more just society. I decided to work here in the first place because, though I don’t believe food aid should have to exist, the program’s philosophy was in line with my own. I believe people coming in for food aid should not be policed, or asked invasive questions about their household finances. I’ve been lucky to be able to visit other House of Friendship programs and learn about the community building and advocacy that goes on at our community centres and residential programs as well.

I’ve been so privileged in the past year to work with dedicated staff and volunteers who believe in the program like I do, and who are working every day to create the kind of community they want to be a part of. I’ll miss it here.

Celebrating 12 Days of good deeds

Today is the last day of our 12 Days for Good campaign, and though I am sad to see it go, I’ve been so inspired by all the amazing stories I’ve heard from people who are paying it forward. Today as we celebrate the good deeds done in Waterloo Region, here are some of the highlights of the past week and a half.

To start off, word from the Christmas Hampers Warehouse is that over 4,240 hampers have been delivered to homes in Waterloo Region. This has been our busiest year yet, and it would not have been possible without all the help we got from amazing volunteers during the past 12 days. What a success!

We’ve been lucky to have the opportunity to speak to media outlets about 12 Days for Good. John Neufeld, Jane Barkley, and Natalie Brown were on Talk Local Waterloo Region discussing the impact of 12 Days and how they’ve been involved. Check out the video here.

The Power of 12

Volunteers swing into action and put together the first of several thousand Christmas Hampers

Last Friday, volunteers in north Waterloo were busy.  They came together, many of them only seeing each other at this time of year, and got to business assembling boxes of food for people they will never meet.  Christmas Hampers officially got into gear.

Inspired by these volunteers and the hundreds who will follow them each day until the 25th, House of Friendship invites YOU to get involved in our community to the power of 12.

Welcome to 12 Days.

The idea is simple: do something, anything, in the next twelve days to help someone else.  These can be 12 big things, 12 little things or even just one thing. We`re not asking you to join in on what House of Friendship is doing (although you are very welcome to) we simply want to share the enthusiasm and drive that we see around us and encourage others to make a positive change.

This year, since it is a traditional time of gift giving, we are organizing our own efforts around 12 different “gifts”:  the gift of Justice and Equality, Food, Home, Community, Health, Joy, Knowledge, Friendship, Warmth, Diversity, Hope, and finally, Celebrating the Good!

Each day we will share some tips, suggestions, stories and inspiration that you can use to share that gift with our community.

Follow #12daysforgood on twitter, on Facebook and come back here for daily updates.

Day 1: How do you wrap the Gift of Justice?

In my University days, I found myself sitting with some co-workers for lunch, enjoying the nice summer weather.  We were doing door-to-door sales at the time and the spirit of the work place was making money and self reliance.  You were responsible for your success or failure.  Every day, before hitting the streets, it was drilled into us: keep pushing, stay confident, work hard and you will do it.

As we dug into our lunches, the conversation turned to a homeless man we had interacted with earlier before starting work. One of my co-workers observed “If I was on the street, I would never stop, I would clean myself up, get a job and get off the street in a few days.”

If only life was that simple.

Our volunteers go the distance

One of the single most rewarding parts of being at the House of Friendship is working beside the hundreds of amazing volunteers who come to help us and others each and every day of the year.  At the beginning of September we took a moment to relax and celebrate their achievements in style thanks to Knox Presbyterian Church who opened their space to us and let us set up some BBQ’s to grill some tasty food.

We couldn’t have done it without Boston Pizza, Canadian Tire, The Cake Box, Future Shop, Galaxy Cinemas, Max’s Golf, the Perimeter Institute, Princess Cafe, Starbucks, The Museum, Walmart, Waterloo Region Museum, Whole-lota Gelata, and CIBC who all generously gave their own thanks for the work our volunteers do by donating raffle prizes.

A hamper is worth a thousand words

For us to try and explain in words all of the wonderful things that the volunteers at the Emergency Food Hamper Program do would be difficult.  Instead, we have compiled a set of pictures, both new and not-so new, of our volunteers in action!  The pictures will walk you through a typical day at 807 Guelph Street.

Let start with the morning.  Typically volunteers arrive any time after 8am ready to get to work.  The morning crew work together to sort, stock and bag large quantities of food that has been donated to our program.

Once the shelves have been stocked and the quotas set, we open the doors to the public.  At this time, we also welcome our hamper packers who will pack and distribute a large quantity of food to those are in need of food assistance.

While there is always work to be done at the Emergency Food Hamper Program, there is always time for FUN!

So this wraps up a day at the Emergency Food Hamper Program.  As you can see there is a lot of work that is done within the walls of 807 Guelph Street, but there is a lot of laughs shared amongst staff and volunteers to keep the spirits high!

Being flexible

Hello!  I’m Matt G, the other Matt at the Food Hamper Program.  I have been working as the Emergency Food Hamper Program’s volunteer coordinator for the past three years.  One of the things I’ve learned most over the past few years is what it means to be flexible.  The Emergency Food Hamper Program is a unique place.  We are affected by so many varying factors such as how much food we will get in, when that food will arrive, and how many people will come in for emergency assistance.  We never know what will show up on our door step, and when.

807 Guelph Street is an ever-changing environment and the needs of our program are constantly changing.  For this reason, I am so grateful to the many volunteers who all seem to have this same characteristic of being flexible.

We have so many great volunteers who are able to adapt to any and every situation and who are willing to do whatever is most needed of them at a given moment.  They show up and ask us, “what do you need me to do now?”  As needs change, they are willing to change too.  They walk through our door with a lot of enthusiasm about doing whatever they can to make others feel maybe just a little bit better.  And they most assuredly do!  Sometimes the result of what we are doing at the Emergency Food Hamper Program gets lost in the day-to-day chaos that is our operations. It is easy to think of our work in terms of how many boxes of lettuce we need to move from one end of the warehouse to another, or how much yogurt we need to distribute to make space for the shipment of mushrooms that we know will show up the following morning.

The reality is, however, that many individuals and families are being helped each day, and this is a result of the willingness of an amazing crew of volunteers who are not so much concerned about what they are doing themselves, but what we are doing together.  Whether it is packing hampers, stocking shelves, sorting through mountains of donated clothing, or even sweeping the floor, all these things are very important and make it possible for us to continue to do what we are doing.

Volunteer Sherry works at making a dent in the bin full of potatoes

The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.  ~Oscar Wilde

Everybody can be great.  Because anybody can serve.  You don’t have to have a college degree to serve.  You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve…. You don’t have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve.  You only need a heart full of grace.  A soul generated by love.  ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Volunteer Spotlight: Carola

Carola has been volunteering at the Emergency Food Hamper Program for almost 15 years, giving almost 4000 hours of her time.  In the past year alone, she has volunteered 180 hours!  Carola’s gift of time and energy has not gone unnoticed.  It was a joy to have the opportunity to get to know Carola a little bit better.

How did you hear about House of Friendship?

“It’s a funny thing really.  When I first moved into this neighbourhood, I saw people walking with boxes of food, and I naturally got curious.  Where is all this food coming from?  I decided to find out for myself by paying a visit to the EFHP.  I applied to become a volunteer that day, and I have been here ever since!”

What do you enjoy about volunteering at the EFHP?

“I really look forward to spending time with the people that have become like family to me.  I also like that I am able to get out and do something in the community.”

What’s your favourite job at our program?

“My favourite job here is sorting and folding the donated clothing.  We get just about anything!  I also used to really enjoy going through the toys.  That gave me a chance to play with toys that I never had when I was growing up.”

How has volunteering impacted your life?

“The House of Friendship helped us when we first came to Canada from Germany 54 years ago.  I wanted to give back for all that the House of Friendship did for my family.”

Where did you used to work?

“I used to work at the Red Cross for many years doing home care visits.  I also have worked in the kitchen at the Alpine Club.”

What kind of activities or hobbies do you enjoy when you aren’t working or volunteering?

“I love to be in the kitchen, whether it be cooking or baking, I love it all.  My favourite recipe to make is a black forest torte, which is a very rich, chocolaty dessert.  I also enjoy sewing, knitting and crocheting.  In my ‘spare’ time, I like to work on crossword puzzles and work in my garden.  I also love any time that I get to spend with my three children and three grandchildren.”

Carola was kind enough to share her Black Forest Torte with us, enjoy! 

 

She promised that she would make this dessert for the volunteers and staff at the EFHP when she reaches her 15 year anniversary of volunteering here!  We won’t forget that promise!  Thanks for all the time that you have contributed to the Emergency Food Hamper Program!   

The Value of One, the Power of Many

“Those are a lot of garbage bags,” Matt observed early Friday morning, “people are definitely doing a little spring cleaning.” The front of the warehouse, where we store incoming non-food donations, is piled with bagged clothing like stacks of potatoes during the Potato Blitz. We faced a dilemma. With so many donated clothes, we always struggle to distribute them quickly before more arrives. That’s when Wouda, one of our long-term volunteers piped up to say, “It’s great!  I’ve got something to really keep me busy now!”

Although we are primarily a food program, we also accept clothing and other household donations. In the same way that the food we receive must be sorted and repacked, so too must these non-food items be taken out of their bags and put on hangers to be displayed in the lobby. Over ten years ago, when Wouda brought a friend in to collect a hamper, she noticed that the clothing area could use some attention. She has been responding to that need ever since, dedicating her weekday mornings to this cause.

“I just love it. I love all of it,” Wouda giggled as she surveyed the bags of treasures. She explained to me that only a week ago, there were barely any items for the lobby. She kept busy that week working on potatoes instead, but was concerned by the lack of donations that normally fill our waiting area. “Now,” she said smiling, “the donation bin is overflowing!”

Wouda peeks out from behind a few of the garbage bags of clothing we received on Friday.

Things like this happen all the time. Just when we are beginning to wonder if we will run out of size four diapers, the Food Bank tells us they just received a shipment of them. Just when we are starting to frown at the size of our hampers, we receive an unexpected donation of food. The only way we are able to make use of this good fortune is through the power of our volunteers. Wouda isn’t the only one who has to process this mountain of clothing – she is assisted by the many other volunteers who keep this place bustling.

Volunteer Spotlight: Oscar

For the last six years many people have received a food hamper thanks to the hamper packing skills of Oscar. Oscar is so dedicated to the idea of volunteering that his first shift here was on his birthday! You’d barely guess that he’s turning 72 years old this year, since he’s got the energy of a 20-year-old! In his time here he’s provided us with more than 1 600 hours of assistance, with almost 200 of those hours being this year alone! But Oscar does more than just pack hampers and keep busy in the warehouse; he also encourages his friends to come in to volunteer when he knows we’re short on help. He’s just an incredible help to our program and I hope you enjoy learning just a few facts about this wonderful volunteer!

Volunteer Spotlight – Bob

Volunteers are extremely important to the work we do! Without them we wouldn’t be able to serve the many individuals and families that come to us each day looking for assistance. Some of the ways we recognize their dedication is a Volunteer party each year in September, celebrating birthdays, and to boast about them in our volunteer spotlight blogs.

You may remember in the past how we’ve taken some time to write about some of the many volunteers such as Connie, Rupert, Dorian, and Michael. So this blog is here to continue showing off all the wonderful people who share their time with us week after week.