Show & Tell

March 8th, 2010 by Jon Simons

By Jon Simons

Just a few weeks ago I had a personal reminder of the true value of “show & tell” when it comes to lifting up mission. I was visiting with my Dad in Boston and spent a morning volunteering with him at a food pantry he supports. I must admit that although I have dropped off food to can drives and donated money to various hunger-related causes; I had never been to a food pantry.

Once we arrived I was assigned to help “clients” shop in the pantry. There was a color code system that determined which foods and at what quantity people could choose. As I shopped with folks, I learned their names and a little about them. We joked around and I even offered a few simple recipes for the some of the vegetables we had that day. When the supervisor was not looking, I even snuck a few extra sweets into the bags of some of the elderly clients. Although I was only at the pantry for about 3 hours, it was a very impacting experience. Before I left for the day, I stopped by the supervisor’s office and wrote a check.

I have a different view of hunger now and a closer connection to the mission of food pantries. Now that I am back in NJ, my family and I are looking for a local pantry to volunteer some time. We have been touched by the cause of hunger in a personal way and feel compelled to help.

You have the same opportunity in your YMCA. Never underestimate the value of “show & tell.”