On Friday, October 23rd, TWC closed up shop for the day to engage in work of a different nature. As has been our annual tradition, we donate one day of our time to a local organization in need of volunteers. It’s our way of giving back to the community and spending time outside the office engaged in an activity that has meaning for us all. This year we spent the day with Community Food Share at their Louisville, CO, warehouse. CFS, which services Boulder and Broomfield counties, operates a variety of programs that put food in the hands of individuals and families who struggle with poverty and lack of access to high-quality food.
We had the opportunity to be part of their “Feeding Families” program that day. This program, which is their largest direct-service program, focuses specifically on families with children in the school district’s Free and Reduced Lunch programs, or in the Boulder County Head Start or Wild Plum Center. There are approximately 14,000 children enrolled in the Free and Reduced Lunch programs alone, and Feeding Families makes it possible for them to obtain nutritious food so that families’ limited funds can be diverted to other necessities.
So how did we spend our time? We were fortunate in that, collectively, we had exposure to a wide variety of volunteer roles. We began the day with an extensive tour of the facility led by Volunteer Coordinator Extraordinaire Sue Ericson, who provided a wealth of information on CFS’ role in the community and its many programs. After this, some of us assisted clients with their grocery shopping and restocked supplies, while others were engaged in more “behind the scenes” jobs like cleaning and repackaging eggs, bagging apples, checking expiration dates on stock, and disposing of expired food. The breadth and scope of the program were immediately apparent to us all during our pre-work tour, and our interactions with CFS staff and clients really allowed us to feel the impact the organization has within the community. We wrapped up our time with Communications and Corporate Relation Manager Susan Finesilver, who made sure that any questions were answered and that we all understood our impact and CFS’ appreciation of our contribution. The day culminated with a silly photo op (right) that captures the fun we had that day.
Back Row: Steve, Dianna, Karen, Myra, & Michael | Front Row: Katie & Brandon
TWC would like to thank Community Food Share for allowing us to be a part of their organization for the day. We were all so impressed with their high standards and the great lengths to which they went in explaining their program and what’s involved in making sure individuals and non-profit agencies get the assistance they need. Our hats are off to all the CFS staff and volunteers for making us feel welcomed and a part of the team that day. We enjoyed our time and are grateful for the opportunity to give back to the community.
Visit Community Food Share’s website to learn more about them, and how you can be a part of their mission. If you aren’t local to Boulder and Broomfield counties, we encourage you to find a similar organization in your area. CFS is affiliated with an organization called Feeding America. Visit their website to locate a food bank in your area.