Volunteers make a difference

Imagine you are alone in a large room with long tables holding 5,382 food items, which must be placed in 414 individual bags, then double tied, then delivered, to their respective “homes.”  That amount of work would take one person over ten hours per week. Fortunately, that is accomplished, but by more than one person. In fact, a large group of volunteers makes putting the Friday Backpack bags together a breeze! If it weren’t for these amazing volunteers, it would not be possible to feed all of the kids that they feed. Instead of 10 hours per week for one person, the group of over 30 volunteers cuts this down to about an hour and a half!

The amazing volunteers come from all different backgrounds; from three to 73. They are Retired Teachers of Phelps County, Kiwanians, Rotarians, members of Christ Episcopal Church and the Rolla Presbyterian Church. The staff at Truman, Mark Twain, and Rolla Junior High has been amazing with their volunteer time. Other volunteers include the youth group from First United Methodist Church, college fraternities, and just people from around the community.

HOPE Alliance of Missouri would like to thank each volunteer for his or her amazing dedication to the Friday Backpack Program! Volunteers really do make a difference!

The Friday Backpack Program packs food bags for children on a weekly basis. The bags are then handed out to a pre-selected group of children so that they can have something to eat over the weekends. Each bag of food costs about $6 per week. There has been an upward trend in the number of children that we feed. Food insecurity is no longer affecting only those living at the poverty line. “The working poor comprise more than 70% of those receiving assistance from food pantries. The vast majority of these don’t receive food stamps or government cash assistance, and earn less than $950 per month.”

The Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri.

If you are interested in volunteering, holding a food drive, or financially supporting the program, please feel free to contact: Faith Ann Barnes, Executive Director, HOPE Alliance of Missouri; PO Box 122, Rolla, MO 65402. Telephone: 573-368-8001.

Volunteers are needed to pack the food bags, office work, accounting and marketing.

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