#25 Volunteer in the Community - 2nd Time Around

The company where I work turns 100 years old next month so for the past year (our "Centennial Year") s part of the year-long celebration all offices have been partcipating in "100 Good Deeds", a program whose goal is to perform a minimum of 100 good deeds over the course of the year through community service projects across the country. The initiative is a thank you to the communities where our offices are that have supported our company.

That said, my 2nd volunteer experience toward my goals was for an organization called Kids Food Basket in Grand Rapids. Kids Food Basket provides sack suppers during the school year (and sack lunches during the summer) to kids who otherwise would go from lunch (which is paid through government subsidies for low-income families) to breakfast (if subsidized) or lunch the next day. KFB not only feeds these students, but makes sure that each sack lunch/supper contains one serving of fresh fruit or vegetables, a granola bar, a 100% fruit juice box, granola bar, sandwich with protein, and a healthy snack such as trail mix or pretzels. On average, 2,500 sack suppers were provided each day to students in 26 schools last year. There are 13 more schools on the waiting list to be approved (KFB serves schools where 80% or more of students live at or below the poverty level), which means there is a HUGE need in the Grand Rapids area.

I first heard of the organization about a year ago, and I will be honest, it was an issue that I had never thought about or ever knew existed. I am grateful for people who see a need and do something about it and for people who recognize how important childhood years are to proper physical and developmental growth. Kids Food Basket was founded by Mary K. Hoodhood; she recently recieved the Presidential Citizens Medal, the second highest honor a civilian can receive, for her work.

My group made 1,600 bologna sandwiches...which is a lot of bologna! A 10-year old boy had his birthday party there that night so he and his friends helped with bagging the fresh tomatoes and the pretzels. I told the boy's parents that it was a great thing to have kids volunteer and they said their son wanted to do it all on his own - so all his friends brought donations to KFB instead of gifts for him and gave their time to help others. If that doesn't warm your heart, I don't know what will!