Every year Inter-Faith Food Shuttle is honored to help folks spend Martin Luther King Day “on” rather than take the day “off” from school or work. 2016 is no exception. Here’s a look at some of the ways difference-makers around the Triangle spent MLK Day in service to others.
BackPack Buddies
For the 6th straight year, IFFS joined Community Heroes Day at Marbles Kids Museum by setting up a BackPack Buddies packing station.
“It’s important for our kids to see that there are people in the community who we can help,” said Anita Von Canon, who was at Marbles with her daughters, sister, and nephews. “It’s a privilege for us to be a blessing to other people. Thanks for the opportunity to help with BackPack Buddies today at Marbles.”
Her daughter Maggie happily packed bag after bag after bag, thoroughly enjoying her first time volunteering with BackPack Buddies.
“I think it’s cool to help other kids who can’t get this food themselves,” Maggie said. “I like that the bags are helping kids over the weekend, and that they’re able to pick them up at school. I’m really glad I came.”
All-in-all, volunteers packed 500 bags that will provide healthy weekend meals and snacks to NC children this month. Video coverage from ABC 11 can be found at this link (scroll half-way down to the second video, and fast-forward to 1:06)
A video posted by Full Life Youth Ministry (@bgroveyouth) on Jan 18, 2016 at 8:56am PST
Grocery Bags for Seniors
Once again, IFFS participated in the United Way of the Greater Triangle’s MLK Day of Service, with an opportunity for volunteers to provide healthy produce for neighbors in need. This year, Baptist Grove Youth packed 113 bags of potatoes, carrots, onions, and more (totaling 565 pounds!) and delivered the food to low income families and seniors in Raleigh. The delivery of fresh produce supplements limited food budgets, and encourages cooking at home, which is often healthier and more economical than eating out.
Gleaning
A bundled-up group from Ravenscroft School braved cold temperatures to harvest surplus collards straight from the field in Louisburg. This event was coordinated with our friends at Society of St. Andrew (SOSA). The students worked hard and never stopped smiling as they gleaned 750 pounds of leafy greens – which will be distributed this very week at IFFS Mobile Markets.
Soup Bags
More than 500 volunteers at Durham Technical Community College packed thousands of meals for local families. Volunteers from local universities, Rotary Clubs, and the United Way packed 100,000 meals of soup mix, consisting of rice and beans. Each bag will feed a family of four. Watch video coverage below from WNCN.