In mid-April, I volunteered with Belmont Community Resource Services. BCRS partners with Feed More, central Virginia’s core hunger relief organization, to provide groceries and clothing free of charge to families in need. Every Thursday, food pantry volunteers help prepare carts full of enough groceries to last families of up to 10 people for at least one week. This involves sorting through massive amounts of produce outdoors in all types of weather.

Families come to collect the food on Fridays. During the pickup window, volunteers greet and direct the families, load vehicles, and assist with Feed More registration. Families are also able to collect donated clothing during this time. Since nearly half of all families cannot speak English, I have often served as a Spanish interpreter.

Volunteering with BCRS is a rewarding experience, and it is a pleasure working with genuinely kind individuals who are proud to serve the community. This organization is celebrating its 20-year anniversary, and they have never missed a week of Friday distribution! It is a vital community resource that ensures that the nearly 1,600 families who come each month will have adequate food and clothing. The volunteers are what make this possible, so I encourage anyone who might be interested to join us in helping to keep this program going!