I have completed one week and started a second week at the Broad Street Food Pantry, and it has been a great experience so far! So happy to finally begin and get the ball rolling. A quick overview of my project is that it has three aspects: making the food pantry more eco-friendly, volunteer friendly, and transportation friendly for clients.  The eco-friendly aspect is pretty straightforward.  In the volunteer realm, Kathy and I hope to find ways to let the volunteers know how appreciated their work is, and also make it easier for them to schedule hours and become properly trained.  Transportation is a big issue for some of the Pantry’s clients.  Imagine living even a few miles away, with no other mode of transportation than your own two feet, and attempting to carry 3 or 4 bags of groceries back home!  In the summer heat, no less.  I will admit: I occasionally have trouble trying to  man-handle my groceries from the store to my car.  Imagine if I had to walk the two miles back home!  I have already started work on each of these projects, you will hear more about that soon!

It might be good to explain why I was interested in the Broad Street Food Pantry when I applied. As I said in my application essay, “An eco-friendly food pantry benefits both our society and the earth that nourishes it.” I really believe this to be true.  The healthier our soil, air, and water, the better our earth will be able to sustain us.

One philosophy I live by is “A falling leaf affects the farthest star”. In a gist, everything we do has an effect, be it large or small, and every effect makes the world a little bit different, be it a large difference or a very small one. I think we should keep in our minds, every day, that each choice we make affects not only ourselves, but many others as well. The farmers who grow our food, the textile workers who make our clothes, the earth that supports us. Our daily choices affect the health and prosperity of other people and the health and prosperity of our planet.

This being said, even a small change in the Food Pantry (for example, using only natural, biodegradable cleaning products) will have an effect on its surrounding environment and the people who work and shop there. I hope to find as many ways as possible to change the Food Pantry for the better: to be better for the environment, a better place to volunteer, and an accessible place to help our neighbors who need it most. Not that the Food Pantry isn’t an amazing place already, but we must always strive for improvement! 🙂

This is a big project, and after my first week I have realized I will not have to find all of the answers on my own. I have met many people so far, each with a different and very valuable opinion. The people at Broad Street Food Pantry do so much for our community, and with all of our ideas together I believe we will be able to do even more in the weeks and months to come!

(Hanging out with the onions at our first Farmer’s Market!)

Have a great week everyone!

-Liz