Young volunteers allow food bank to be open for weekend hours

By Travis Fischer, tkfischer@charlescitypress.com

Messiah’s Food Pantry is expanding its open hours thanks to the dedication of some of Charles City’s youth.

Normally open only on Wednesdays and Fridays, for the last few weeks the food bank has been available on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon, staffed by volunteer youth who want to donate some of their summer vacation time to the community.

For years now, Charles City teacher Eric Holfer has been bringing his 5th and 6th graders to the food bank as part of the school’s volunteering program. This year though, as school closed for the summer, some of the students have decided to continue serving.

“Just to be so young and so dedicated, they care,” said Pastor Debra Lincoln, who manages the food bank. “They’re very responsible and dedicated young people.”

Signing up three or four to a shift, and accompanied by an adult manager, the young volunteers have given the food bank the means to fulfill a longstanding need.

“We’ve always wanted to be open on Saturdays,” said Lincoln. “We have needed a Saturday open for a couple hours to catch people that work during the week.”

Fully trained in how the food bank operates, the kids have taken well to the responsibility of helping make sure everybody in Charles City has enough to eat.

“There’s a lot of people out in Charles City that don’t have food,” said CJ Hoefer, who was also volunteering on Saturday, July 1.

While Hoefer operated the food bank’s computer systems, friends Andy Lemke and Dominick Rice kept busy putting together grocery packages and loading them into vehicles.

“I thought it would be a workout,” said Rice. “The time does go fast.”

Along with providing physical help to the people of Charles City, volunteering gives the kids a chance to help make connections with members of the community.

“I believe it’s a great way to socialize with others,” said Lemke, who said he enjoys the opportunity to make a connection with people who may not be able to socialize very often.

“It’s very nice to hear about their stories,” he said.

The hours go quickly when there are people to help and the boys pass the downtime by talking about football. The kids will rotate shifts throughout the summer and Pastor Lincoln said she is happy to have them and hopes that their example will encourage more kids to volunteer.

“I just love their energy,” said Lincoln. “They’re a lot of fun to be with.”