Church and Society

Packing Pineapples for Second Harvest Food Bank

Opening boxes, removing packages, applying new labels, and repacking bag after bag of pineapple tidbits back into the boxes… Sound like fun? Actually, it was! That was how 13 cheerful volunteers from the Campbell United Methodist Church (UMC) spent their Saturday morning, April 14, 2012.

On what was to be Second Harvest Food Bank’s final volunteer food sorting day at their Curtner Avenue warehouse, an enthusiastic crew faced pallet after pallet of boxes filled with bags of pineapple tidbits.

In three fast-paced hours, the Campbell UMC team relabeled and repackaged 4,548 packages that were distributed to families “struggling with low-wage jobs, growing housing costs and homelessness.” Second Harvest has seen a 4 percent increase in the number of people served over last year, so the need is great.

In a letter to volunteers, Director of Volunteer Services, Kristin Sulpizio, wrote, “Because of you and other volunteers, over 236,000 people a month are able to receive food… We want you to know how deeply we appreciate the time you have taken out of your own busy lives to help us achieve our mission, ‘Providing food for people in need in our community.” Your gift of time has made a difference for many in our community. Please express our appreciation to the members of your volunteer team for giving their precious time and hard work while at Second Harvest Food Bank.”

l-r: Greg Catcott, Lou Woodburycatcott, Bill Waldrop, Gail Jacobs, Sue Waldrop, Patty Henderson, Sue Edson, Jerry Giles, Julie Rygaard, Angelikka Carter, Michael Raymond. (Not pictured: Heidi and Travis Lanham)

Projects at the Food Bank are great ways to connect with old friends and make new ones. If you can’t join the Wednesday Wonder Workers when they volunteer at Second Harvest, watch for the next announcement to help out on a Saturday morning. It’s a great experience and a fun way to help an important organization provide nutritional support to people in need. And make a note that on June 3 and 10, Campbell UMC will sponsor a special drive for Second Harvest. Your contributions will be gratefully and appreciatively accepted toward their summer food drive!