Frank's Story

I have been volunteering at the Ballard Food Bank (BFB) since 2015.  Before the pandemic pulled the rug from under familiar routines, I volunteered regularly on Thursdays.   Those evenings were often very busy with a steady flow of clients getting food and hygienic products, and accessing community services.  After closing the Food Bank to clients, we would spend 1-2 hours cleaning the warehouse in preparation for resumption of services the following Monday.  

I always looked forward to my regular Thursday night gig at BFB, not the least because of my many friendly, and sometimes profound encounters with clients, volunteers and staff.  I’ve had clients relate to me that “We would not have had a Christmas dinner without the help of the Ballard Food Bank”, or “The Ballard Food Bank saved my life when I was sick and had nothing to eat.”  Hearing these things drove home the critical role of the Food Bank in our community---even then, with Seattle riding on a wave of seeming prosperity.

When the pandemic struck in March, my family was concerned about me volunteering onsite at the Food Bank.  I felt then and continue to believe that volunteering onsite at the BFB is safe, but I also want my family to feel comfortable in this fraught time.  I’ve found a way to continue supporting the Food Bank remotely.   But before I had that opportunity to do remote volunteer work I had been asking myself, what does it mean to be a volunteer?  

The answer came to me in the BFB mission statement. There are many ways to support BFB in its mission to “bring food and hope to our neighbors.” Donations of money and food are obvious ways to volunteer for those who can’t be onsite.  Getting the word out to friends and neighbors about the good work done at the Food Bank is also a very helpful volunteer activity.  A kind gesture to a stranger is, in it’s own way, a means of volunteering to bring hope to our neighbors.  

What’s your story?