The Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ Volunteer Program and Cultivate Food Rescue have partnered to offer food boxes to area residents in need. Volunteer Sisters, Maria Center residents, and co-workers helped distribute food. Sister Connie Bach and Relational Services Director Arleen Peterson gathered the volunteers to pray before the first event. During her prayer, Arleen gave thanks for Sister Connie’s continued devotion to those in need.
Cars wound down 9B Road, and parking lots as bilingual greeter Sister Deb Davis welcomed guests. Sisters Jolise May and Therese Irene Galarneau guided them to the volunteers, who loaded boxes into their trunks and back seats. Volunteers asked each guest if they needed an extra box to take to someone without transportation, or who was unable to attend the event. Most guests did, increasing the reach.
The first event was so successful with about 600 boxes being distributed, that it was repeated two weeks later. At the second event, 26 volunteers, including four children of coworkers, handed out an additional 600 food boxes.
Co-workers Rachel Hawkins, Dan Collins, and Heidi Allen brought their children to volunteer that evening, passing the gifts of kindness, service, and dedication to others to the next generation. Garrett Wright, who volunteered on both evenings, echoed the sentiment. “I grew up volunteering,” he said. His Mom was the long-time director of the Marshall County Council on Aging.
In leading her prayer on the final evening, Sister Jolise May implored volunteers to recognize the dignity of everyone they served, noting that every human being is a child of God.
Volunteer Sister Marie Heppeler noted, “it’s a small part, what I can do, to make sure hungry people can get these what’s been donated. I’m amazed at the generosity of Cultivate.”
