Second Harvest Heartland Sees Big Need for Volunteers
Second Harvest Heartland says they’ve seen need go up, while donations and volunteer manpower have gone down.
“With the pandemic, we’ve seen about an 80 percent reduction in our volunteer force, which adds to the cost of what we are doing,” said Julie Greene from Second Harvest Heartland. “Volunteers are so crucial to what we do.”
There are several volunteer opportunities available. Volunteer Terri Christy says volunteering is worth it.
“I want to give back,” explains Christy, who volunteers once a week. “It really doesn’t take a skill. I can come. I get it done. You work a few hours and split. You don’t have to worry about anything when you get home.”
Terri Christy, Second Harvest Heartland volunteer
Christy was sorting produce on the day that CCX Media visited with her. She says she often finds someone to talk with.
“I never considered myself very friendly. I’m more of an introvert, but you are standing right there with people and you start chatting,” said Christy. “A smile can make a big difference in a person’s life.”
Second Harvest Heartland says it’s the volunteers like Christy who provide real value to their program. Not only do volunteers deliver the equivalent workload of 25 full time employees, they deliver intangibles too.
“It’s the compassion they bring,” said Greene. “The hours they bring, the skills they bring and the compassion that they bring to the organization as they help us in our mission to end hunger together.”
