When I was in Missoula, I volunteered in a place called "Missoula Food Bank". That place's main purpose is to freely provide food for the poor and senior citizens and it was really good at that.
The food the bank provides comes from donations or is bought by the money the bank raises for that purpose.
What I liked the most about the bank was that it was not a place where people go to take bags filled with random items that they might not even need..no.. it was actually like a market .. the items were sorted and nicely put on shelves. So it was almost like the way items are displayed in big stores..the clients use carts to go around and pick the items they need with some few limits on some items like milk and meat and with no limits on some other items that the bank has plenty of.
Most of the volunteers at the bank were kinda old.. above 60 I'd say..but they were really friendly and you can feel when you talk to them that they love what they do at the bank and they are really willing to serve the community and help others have better lives. It was good and different to see such old people doing something very productive and life changing. That's because I used to see people at the same age in my home country, Egypt, doing nothing like that..they would just retire at the age of sixty and just stay at home then. These volunteers say it loud that one can add positive values and changes to his/her society even at the age of 80.
The Work was really organized..some of the volunteers' task was to sort food items and take out the bad or expired ones. Others' was to prepare these items and put them on display. I was on the "boxing team"..our job was to put items that clients picked in bags and boxes after asking what's best for them. There where also a team responsible for interviewing new clients who claim they need free food..that team was responsibility was making sure that the food goes to those who need and deserve it.
Many people at the bank were very interested when they knew I was Egyptian. Some of them were planning on visiting Egypt and they showered me with questions about where to go in Egypt and how life is like there. Others asked me about some middle east issues..specially political ones..I don't really know much about politics but I gave them some almost-satisfying answers.
I think every city in every country should have a food bank like this one ..it serves those in need, gives a chance to the old to serve their communities, and gives a chance to donors to really contribute and improve the quality of life for some people!
take a look at the bank:
http://www.missoulafoodbank.org/
The food the bank provides comes from donations or is bought by the money the bank raises for that purpose.
What I liked the most about the bank was that it was not a place where people go to take bags filled with random items that they might not even need..no.. it was actually like a market .. the items were sorted and nicely put on shelves. So it was almost like the way items are displayed in big stores..the clients use carts to go around and pick the items they need with some few limits on some items like milk and meat and with no limits on some other items that the bank has plenty of.
Most of the volunteers at the bank were kinda old.. above 60 I'd say..but they were really friendly and you can feel when you talk to them that they love what they do at the bank and they are really willing to serve the community and help others have better lives. It was good and different to see such old people doing something very productive and life changing. That's because I used to see people at the same age in my home country, Egypt, doing nothing like that..they would just retire at the age of sixty and just stay at home then. These volunteers say it loud that one can add positive values and changes to his/her society even at the age of 80.
The Work was really organized..some of the volunteers' task was to sort food items and take out the bad or expired ones. Others' was to prepare these items and put them on display. I was on the "boxing team"..our job was to put items that clients picked in bags and boxes after asking what's best for them. There where also a team responsible for interviewing new clients who claim they need free food..that team was responsibility was making sure that the food goes to those who need and deserve it.
Many people at the bank were very interested when they knew I was Egyptian. Some of them were planning on visiting Egypt and they showered me with questions about where to go in Egypt and how life is like there. Others asked me about some middle east issues..specially political ones..I don't really know much about politics but I gave them some almost-satisfying answers.
I think every city in every country should have a food bank like this one ..it serves those in need, gives a chance to the old to serve their communities, and gives a chance to donors to really contribute and improve the quality of life for some people!
take a look at the bank:
http://www.missoulafoodbank.org/
