LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – The South Plains Food Bank is experiencing an need for volunteers as numbers continue to drop following a brief surge around the New Year.
Travis Johnson, chief operating officer, said the food bank typically sees rooms packed with volunteers sorting, packing and preparing food for thousands of families across the region. Currently, those spaces remain largely empty.
“We need volunteers, we need as many volunteers as we saw in December, you can see behind me right now, this room is normally packed with volunteers,” Johnson said.
Impact of volunteers
Johnson says it’s important to remember while you may think you’re just packing boxes, families see hope.
“So when you’re coming to the food bank and volunteering, you’re not just putting food in a box, but that box is going to go to somebody’s home, and hopefully that home is going to be able to thrive and flourish in our community,” Johnson said. “Because of what we’re doing here at the food bank, so you’re providing food but you’re also providing hope.”
Flexible time commitment welcomed
Volunteering at times can feel like a time commitment, but Johnson says it doesn’t have to be, with any help going a long way.
“On the website it will tell you that it’s maybe a two hour, three hour opportunity, but anytime that you can provide to us, we will welcome that,” Johnson said. “If you can only be here for an hour, come be here for an hour, because that’s an hour of work that can get done and help who we are serving.”
Different opportunities to serve
The food bank offers a variety of volunteer opportunities, including serving in the orchard, the kitchen, the warehouse or any of its other programs. Johnson said the organization works to keep the atmosphere fun for all.
“We try to have music going, you may see some people dancing around here, that’s always fun to see, there’s a lot of camaraderie, we love to have teams come out even individuals,” Johnson said. “We have incredible staff here at the South Plains Food Bank, and we promise we will make it fun and worth your time and you will leave here with your heart full,” Johnson said.
If you would like to volunteer, or to see the different opportunities, click here.
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