Volunteer Spotlight: Debbie Lam Goes Above and Beyond
What does it mean to “go beyond”? Volunteers and staff at Ballard Food Bank might all have very different answers to that question. For volunteer Debbie Lam, finding her “going beyond” came from a Google search. After the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Debbie, a small business owner, was faced with a lull in her business and a growing feeling inside that she needed something more meaningful in her life – a way to help. Guided by her faith and an open heart, she began a search for that ‘something’.
One Friday evening, Debbie heard a story on the local news about a need for volunteers at a local food bank. Despite never having considered volunteering at a food bank, it occurred to Debbie, “Maybe I should help out there.” The news story was so successful in recruiting help, that when Debbie called the following Monday, she was told that they already had a full quota of volunteers. Undeterred, she started a new search for other local food banks in need of support, landing on Ballard Food Bank. Staff member Sarah answered the call and told Debbie to come on down and start that day. She began her first shift about 30 minutes later.
Today Debbie can be found working nearly every day of the week in the No-Cook line at the Ballard Food Bank. She provides ready-to-eat food to those who walk up and who have no accessibility to a cooking source (i.e., they may live in a tent or on the streets). In her eight months of volunteering, she has seen some clients come and go, but others she sees nearly every day. She knows each person has a story, and she tries to engage with each person as an individual. She learns who may have dietary needs, like one client who had cancer and couldn’t eat sugary foods. Others are vegetarian or especially love coffee. She finds joy in helping each person.
Along with food distribution, the Ballard Food Bank provides a mail stop for those who need an address. One such mail client was also a regular in Debbie’s No-Cook line, a young man in his early 30’s named S. One day S. came in to pick up his mail dressed up in a pink shirt and gray pants, looking very sharp. He came up to the window and said excitedly, “I got a job! I got a job!” Debbie wanted to cry tears of joy because she realized that the Ballard Food Bank is a steppingstone for many – not a forever place – but a stop along the way in their journey. She thinks of S. often, and she hopes he’s doing well and is on his way to a good life. “I feel completely blessed,” says Debbie of her volunteer service. “I feel like they rescued me. I wouldn’t have thought about the Ballard Food Bank, but maybe the good Lord led me there. It blesses me tremendously in every capacity.”
Debbie is thrilled about the extra space that will come with Ballard Food Bank’s new home opening later this year. “The staff is doing their very best to utilize every bit of free space,” explains Debbie. With proper room, Debbie is hopeful that the new home can be a one-stop-shop for those that need a helping hand. “This new building will mean hope, security, and a sense of belonging for all who visit.”