Patch Volunteers At The Worcester County Food Bank

As Jean McMurray, executive director at the Worcester County Food Bank reminds us, "People ask me who needs help and I always say to look in the mirror." 

It can mean anybody, and everybody. 

With a trying economy, with people struggling to make ends meet, even those with a household that includes working members sometimes need a hand in putting food on the table.

Annually, the Worcester County Food Bank (WCFB) distributes more than 5 million pounds of food to a network of 145 partner agencies that have programs for feeding people including food pantries, community meal sites, and shelters.  Last fiscal year, the WCFB Network assisted more than 100,000 people (some of them many times in one year).

The WCFB distributes enough food every year for approximately 85,000 meals a week.  McMurray said that 99,535 people received assistance from the WCFB’s network of food pantries at least once in the past year.  Donations to the WCFB include frozen meat, poultry, and fish, produce, canned and boxed foods, and prepared foods.  Smaller amounts of toiletries and pet food are also donated.   

WCFB is the primary source of donated food, and while they do not distribute food directly to individuals and families from the facility, there are "emergency boxes of food" on hand for those who visit the WCFB in need of assistance.  An important role the WCFB plays, said McMurray, is referring those in need to their local food pantry, as well as other services that may benefit them such as SNAP, formerly food stamps, summer meals, and meals on wheels.   
 
The Worcester County Food Bank relies on food donations from supermarkets, farms, and community food drives, and also receives food from the state and federal government.  Financial support is provided by individuals, foundations, businesses, and community organizations.   

Local editor Michael Gelbwasser and I spent some time at the WCFB to learn about the process, and volunteered our time by helping to inspect and unload a pallet filled with boxes of frozen meat and fish.

Claire Nagle, a longtime Shrewsbury resident, showed us the ropes. Nagle has been a volunteer at the food bank for more than three years, and looked into working at the food bank because she wanted to "do something physical and something that would benefit people immediately." 

"I wanted to do something I had never done before," said Nagle, who volunteers four mornings per week. 

There are 16 paid staff members, and nearly 400 volunteers who contribute nearly approximately 6,000 hours. 

"Volunteers have an important impact," said McMurray, "by helping to sort the food we receive. Food safety is a top priority." 

Indeed. When sorting and packing the pounds of frozen meat that had come in that day, Nagle insisted that we inspect each package, wiping it with a paper towel to see clearly if there were any tears, if the meat "didn't look good" or had been improperly frozen. If it didn't pass, it is tossed. Each volunteer who comes in undergoes a detailed orientation, learning everything from food safety rules to food quality inspections. 

Anyone interested in volunteering, or learning about the Worcester County Food Bank, should visit the site.