The Missoula Food Bank is a place full of community and welcoming staff. Here,one may find themselves taking a cooking class, getting food to provide for their family, volunteering, or joining in on local community events being held around town that are put on by the food bank.
People may also look for food delivery sources, community resources, Partnership Health Care Clinic, EmPower Place, and other activities. At the food bank, community and volunteering is important to the culture of the business.
In a month, at least 1,000 households are fed through the food bank and their staff, and in the last year, more than at least 50,000 people have utilized and been fed through the food bank.
A day at the Missoula Food Bank involves heavily supporting the community and their needs. People come for food, home supplies, housing information, WIC (Women, Infant, and Children) information, and SNAP benefits. The food bank does a lot more than providing food.
The Missoula Food Bank is a special source here in Missoula where families and people who may struggle with food insecurity can come and – have access to the resources and food they may need. But what would a day at work look like for the employees and volunteers?
Bob Pounds, purchasing and warehouse manager of the food bank itself, states that at the food bank, “there are around 60 volunteers a month signed up on our schedule”. Volunteers at the food bank are one of the most important pieces of the entire system.
When a customer first walks in, they go to a counter run solely by volunteers.
When they are greeted by the volunteers, they are given a form to fill out. This form clarifies which benefits are right for them and shows what they can take and what amount they are allocated.
After filling out the form and figuring out what fits the customer best, they are sent to an area similar to a grocery store where they can choose what food they would like.
Afterwards, they are sent to yet another volunteer where they can get help packing food and getting ready to leave. Besides helping face to face with customers, volunteers also do tons of the work behind the scenes.
Many volunteers help pack and distribute the food that goes to people who need it, and volunteers may also take the trucks out and help pack food from places that donate foods like Costco, local grocery stores, and other places like world market where they may pick up snacks. After being packed on the truck, it is ready to go back to the food bank to be prepped.
Some other things volunteers may be involved in is stocking the store shelves, produce sorting, working front desks, and so much more.
Volunteers also help with the activities put on by the food bank like Missoula Under Construction, Holiday Drive, Turkey Toss, Can the Cats, and more.
Some volunteers may also help out with the EmPower Place where children can participate in “hands on learning” and have fun while making educational connections and learning about science through fun STEM programs.
When Bob Pounds was asked if giving back felt rewarding, he stated, “There is nothing more rewarding than working for a non-profit that is there to support your community”. By working at such an empowering and supportive place, one can feel rewarded and even feel grateful for opportunities they have that others may not.
The impact of helping others at the food bank has also impacted the way Pounds thinks in his daily life, “When you work with people that are less fortunate it forces you to see things differently”.
The Missoula Food Bank is a crucial part of our community for many, and to see it grow and flourish with volunteers is just what the community needs.
Pounds also stated, “I have the opportunity to work here and at my job at the University of Montana Athletic Department and both keep me grounded in this community”. It is always amazing to see the tight and cultured community Missoula has been growing, and thanks to the many people that are welcoming to everyone, the town’s community will continue to spread.
By having volunteers as well as a supportive and generous community, the food bank will be able to continue to provide for others, put on fun community events, and most importantly give back to everyone that creates a safe environment for all.
