Neil Watkins, who runs the food bank in Monroe, said, “I think … big hearts, energy and family” when asked for three words to describe the volunteers working at the food bank, while showing Mrs. Schroeder’s sixth-grade honors class around the food bank on Nov. 4. The food bank, which is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings and Monday nights, takes volunteers who are willing to come help, and they all are needed.
The food bank receives 74,000 pounds of food in one month, and gives away 81,000 pounds in one month. The volunteers work all the time they’re at the food bank, from giving away the food, to moving meat in the giant refrigerator/freezer, to driving to stores to get donations. The volunteers help the food bank give gifts to children at Christmas, and give school supplies in August as well. The food given away is received from food drives, drop-in donations, money donations, or from the local grocery stores. The food bank was opened in 1976 by Julia Morris, and then was later run by her daughter Julie Morris, and now is run by Neil Watkins, who is “retired.” Although he runs the food bank, Watkins said that it was owned by the community, not by him. “It’s just the best thing I’ve ever done. You don’t make any money … but it’s a different kind of income,” Watkins said. That income is the joy of helping others — something we all can receive.
The food bank takes volunteers older than 12 with their parents. If you qualify, and you want to help, you can go down to the food bank to sign up. If you are 16, you can volunteer without a parent, although you do need their permission. Park Place Middle School will host a food drive on Dec. 7. Let’s all get together to give service and help those who aren’t as lucky as us in any way we can!
Genevieve Martin
Park Place Middle School
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