EVERETT — John Hennessy shows up like clockwork every Monday for two and half hours at the Everett Food Bank, where he can be found stocking shelves, handing out food baskets and sweeping and mopping at the end of the day.
Hennessy, 65, who is retired and who lives in Everett, started volunteering at the food bank with his wife, Viki, just before Thanksgiving 2010.
“I wish more people would consider giving up their time, especially since times are getting harder for everyone,” John Hennessy said.
He’s one of the most consistent volunteers at the Food Bank, said food bank coordinator Joseph Chilcoat.
“He also is very friendly and has a great attitude,” Chilcoat said.
The Hennessys moved to Everett in 2009 and started looking for ways to volunteer to help in the community. They started pitching in at the food bank after seeing the need reported in the newspaper.
“I ended up enjoying it and decided to stick with the program,” he said.
He said he would recommend working at the food bank to anyone, since there is a real need in this economy. It is the perfect solution for people with time on their hands, he said.
“People are thankful for what we do here,” John Hennessy said.
It’s not always a pleasant time, he said, noting that sometimes people in need complain about the variety of the food. And he said that he’s seen people take more than what they are allowed. It’s irritating, because the food bank doesn’t have enough of those items and ends being short for other people.
For more information on volunteer work in Everett call Volunteers of America at (425) 259-3191 or the go to the AARP website at www.aarp.org/giving-back/volunteering/.
Renee McCann; 425-339-3455; rmccann@heraldnet.com
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