CheekyChicago

Last week I had the opportunity to partake in one of the coolest volunteer experiences that I have encountered in quite some time. I spent the afternoon at the Lakeview Pantry.

A food pantry, in the general sense, is a facility in which members of the community can come to receive donated food items for themselves and their families. As well, a food pantry is a place where members of the community can donate their extra food, where businesses can make food contributions and where people can come and volunteer some time in the name of helping one another.

I had never been to a food pantry before; I had no idea how one worked or what I would be doing during my afternoon visit. I envisioned myself unloading boxes of food off of trucks for hours on end. I envisioned cardboard, packing tape, millions of cans and breaking down boxes. Although my experience was decorated with cans, cardboard and breaking down boxes – it was so much more! I started off my day learning the method to the madness with Lakeview Pantry’s volunteer guru, Erin. Erin showed us the ropes of how food comes to be at the pantry, where the food is stored, how the food is brought out to the guests and the ins and outs of stocking shelves and organizing by category. It took roughly an hour till I reached my food pantry Ah-ha moment, and was ready to be on the floor with the guests of the pantry.

In the front of the house, guests arrive and take a number. They sit and mingle, while they are called one by one to check in. When the guest checks in, or if they are registering for the first time, they are asked their name and their address or living location. The people or the families in need must live within the parameters of the Lakeview community to be able to utilize the services of this particular food pantry. If the guest does not live within the borders, they are simply referred over to a food pantry in their area. If the guest has been to the pantry before, the pantry checks when their last visit was. Each guest or family is offered the opportunity to ‘shop’ once a month. Each person walks away with an overwhelming amount of food, enough for pretty much one month. They are allowed to come back once more during that month for more produce and bread.

When the guest is done registering, the guest is passed along to a number of volunteers, such as me, to help them shop for their food. On my side of the counter, I have a wall behind me stacked with foods of all kinds. Next to each type of food are descriptions and simple explanations of how much of each item each guest can get, dependant on how many people they are shopping for. Guests can pick and choose what they want. If they do not care for an item, they do not have to take it. If they want more of an item, they can trade in another, similar item, for more of what they like. The pantry has donated foods ranging in category from frozen meats, dairy, produce, soups, beans, breakfast foods, breads, sweets, canned veggies and fish, snacks…etc. I was overwhelmed with how much food we were able to give to people in need.

I will be very frank in saying that I gave away more food to each individual then I buy for myself in one month’s time. The amount of food I gave to each person on average – if I was shopping for the same items on my own, I would not be able to afford given my budget and the amount of food each person had access to. It was remarkable.

The pantry designates between those who can properly store the food they have and cook it, and those who do not have the same means. For individuals who do not have access to a refrigerator or a stove, we have non-perishable items available, items that can open easily and items that do not need to be cooked. The pantry has the ability to help everyone who needs their services. It is wonderful.

Come the end of the day, about 150 guests later, we cleaned the front and back of the house. We stored all of the un-given food. We swept, washed, sanitized, moved, stacked and replenished. I looked around and couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by the incredible charitable act that I had just been a part of. Anyone who knows me knows that one of my favorite charitable endeavors is giving food to those in need. This was the perfect way to do so.

I am thinking more and more about the next time my office participates in a canned food drive. I am thinking more and more about the un-eaten boxes and cans of food on my shelves at home. All of this thinking encourages my knowing that I and the people around me have what it takes to affect the lives of others in a positive way. If you have items to donate, if you have time to volunteer or if you are interested in getting your office rallied for a canned food drive, check out the possibilities of helping the Lakeview Pantry.