With most schools out for the summer, one of the county’s largest food pantries is calling on students and people out of work to help feed families who have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the height of pandemic unemployment, many adults who were temporarily out of work began serving. But fewer of those volunteers are available now, with more employers resuming operations, said Carol Phipps, executive director of the Interchurch Food Pantry of Johnson County.
It’s left the pantry, which is serving more people than usual, in a bind.
Some employers sent workers to volunteer during the stay-at-home order. For example, Anytime Fitness in Bargersville sent a group of volunteers every week, Phipps said.
Now, Phipps is asking students and those with the summer off to help out.
“We have heard (students) might have trouble finding jobs, but we have meaningful things they can do. They can learn teamwork and responsibility and all of the skills they can get from a job. Plus, they can get that sense of making a difference in all of this,” Phipps said.
Though the number of families served has decreased since the stay-at-home orders first took effect, there is still a need to fill, she said.
In late March and throughout April, the pantry fed about 150 families a day. Today, the number has decreased to about 100 families, Phipps said.
When compared to the 80 families the pantry served a day before the pandemic, that number is still high, she said.
“There is such a need from people in the community for food. We get new requests every day,” Phipps said.
While number of requests has increased, the number of volunteers needed to serve them has decreased. Before the pandemic, 15 volunteers were needed every day, but without drivers picking up food donations from around the community, 13 are needed, Phipps said.
The growing volunteer need stems from many traditional volunteers, such as retirees, not being able to help out during the pandemic. Phipps estimates about 95% of the volunteer workforce is comprised of retired or at-risk individuals. And though the young and unemployed have stepped up, there are still gaps in the schedule most days, she said.
There is plenty of food for volunteers to distribute, including frozen items, milk, eggs, fresh produce and dry goods. Eligibility requirements are still relaxed, allowing pantry-goers near and far to get food as often as they need it and pick up food for neighbors who may not be able to get out.
The pantry has many precautions in place to keep volunteers safe, Phipps said. One precaution is social distancing. Volunteers are signed up for specific shifts based on their availability, with about 13 people typically on a shift to allow for a safe distance between volunteers, she said.
Volunteers are also given touch-less temperature checks and asked health questions before each shift. During their shifts, volunteers must wear masks, have access to hand sanitizer and are encouraged to wash their hands frequently, she said.
Contact with the public is minimal since the pantry has converted to drive-thru service. Typically, volunteers take orders from a distance and set the food box on a table for the client to load into their own car. Volunteers occasionally load boxes for clients who are not physically able to do so, Phipps said.
Volunteers say the work is safe, fun and fulfilling.
When Franklin Community Schools began eLearning in March, sophomore Kinley Shoemaker saw the need and decided to volunteer as much as possible, she said.
Volunteering has been a way to keep busy and avoid the boredom of staying at home every day. The work has also made her feel more grounded and grateful, she said.
“Most of my friends are waking up, eating food and going back to bed. (By volunteering), I feel accomplished, wake up at a good time and give back,” Shoemaker said.
Bryor Brown, a junior at IUPUC, started volunteering with Interchurch when his Americorps assignment with the Boys and Girls Club of Johnson County ended abruptly due to the stay-home order, he said.
Even when no families are in line waiting for food, the volunteers stay busy. The work of packing and unloading is monotonous, but the work environment is fun and fulfilling, he said.
“It is more fun than I thought it would be. There are repetitive things but it is fun being around other people who want to be here and have a positive attitude,” Brown said.
Dylan Clarke, a 2020 Franklin Community High School graduate, started volunteering last summer and ramped up efforts to help during the pandemic and brought family members along to help, too.
What started last year as a way to fill time on days off from his summer job turned into a rewarding experience, he said.
“A lot of these people are going through a really tough time,” Clarke said. “It is really rewarding and you feel good after doing it.”
HOW TO VOLUNTEER
What: Interchurch Food Pantry of Johnson County
Who: Anyone over age 10 may volunteer. One adult per child is required to accompany volunteers between ages 10 and 15. Teens ages 16 and up do not require adult supervision.
When: Volunteers should be available for at least one shift per week. Shifts are from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Many volunteers come only one day a week, but volunteers are welcome to take multiple shifts per week, or be on call if more hands are needed.
How: To volunteer, send an email to [email protected].
