Food Share volunteer ‘family’ – close knit, caring
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — Seemed like the hottest day of the year and the Danielson Veterans Coffeehouse volunteers at Food Share kept distributing food. Taking care of the folks in more than 300 cars and each other.
The challenges were all around them. The volunteers had to put insulated pallet blankets over the stacks of frozen food boxes. Coffeehouse Vice President and Food Share organizer Bruce Hay had large fans brought in and he asked the volunteers to sit in front of the fans and hydrate every 15 minutes. Glenn Senecal was directing traffic on the hot pavement that was Kennedy Drive. Hay also took care of him; having him sit in the air conditioned cruiser. Also Auxiliary officer Matt Rondeau spelled Senecal.
One Food Share volunteer brought iced handkerchiefs to be wrapped around the neck.
One or two volunteers made the rounds with coolers filled with iced drinks, again and again. “Have water.”
Usually more than half the volunteers who help are veterans. Still serving. The connections among these “family” members are touching. They tease each other; they scold each other. They not only take care of the folks receiving the food boxes, they care for each other. You’ll hear a good natured — but firm — “put that box down.” And when a volunteer might have a problem with the heat, the response is immediate and inspiring.
So despite the heat, the volunteers made sure each vehicle was taken care of. Nikki’s Dog House, per tradition, brought Coney Dogs for all the volunteers. And volunteers July 2 included two homeschooled boys and about 10 volunteers from the district Walmart stores. Originally Hay thought they might only be able to send five volunteers because the 4th of July weekend is kinda busy. But the local Walmarts put the word out internally and 10 volunteers came, including one from the Norwich Walmart. “I love all the different companies who are here,” said one Walmart volunteer.
The offerings at the Food Share this month included: Frozen waffles, pepperoni pizza bites, French fries, ham steaks, pies, soda, applies, potatoes, limes, strawberries, bananas, carrots, latke mix, corn, puffer corn baby snacks, Panettone, bread, applesauce, vitamins, macaroni and cheese, ramen noodles, fruit drinks, cereal, energy drinks and more.
.