Volunteer
Twice a week, this room fills up.
Every Tuesday and Friday, neighbours come through our doors for groceries. It takes about nine people to run a distribution well and around six to run it at all. Below is every job, what it actually involves, and whether it needs lifting.
Tue + Fri
Every week, all year
~250
People served each distribution
Since 1951
Seventy-five years on this corner
Who you would be working with
These are the neighbors who show up.
Photographed at the door on Bond Street, where every one of them stands twice a week.
Greg Wilkes
Executive Director
Leads Tuesdays
Wanda Watters
Executive Assistant and Treasurer
Leads Fridays
Warren Boardley
Head Boxing Coach
Most Tuesdays and Fridays
Tony Fair
Floor lead, and the photographer
Tuesdays and some Fridays
Miss Mary Jones
Check-in. Former teacher, and first in the door
Tuesdays and Fridays
Quandra Gaines
Check-in helper
Tuesdays and Fridays
Kennedy Gaines-Oshry
Loading and restock
Tuesdays and Fridays
Ivia McCrea
Greeting and calling numbers
Tuesdays and Fridays
Jenny McCrea
Food handout
Tuesdays and Fridays
Fish
Car line and loading
Tuesdays and Fridays
CSM Workman
Car line and loading
Tuesdays
Romona Farley
Greeter
Tuesdays
Dezire Chaney
Wherever she is needed
Tuesdays and Fridays
Emily
New this season
Tuesdays
What we need
Nine jobs. Pick one.
You do not need experience and you do not need to commit to every week. Tell us which of these sounds like you and we will put you next to someone who already knows the job.
Greeter
You are the first face people see. You say out loud how the day works, point cars one way and walk-ups the other, and spot anyone who needs a chair or a hand.
On your feet. No lifting.
Check-in
You work the tablet at the table. Take a name, confirm how many people are in the household today, hand back a number.
Seated. No lifting.
Check-in helper
Some neighbours have no phone, or cannot read the screen, or just need someone patient. You take that lane, and it is allowed to be slow.
Seated. No lifting.
Calling numbers
You keep the line moving and the room informed. Numbers called loud, in order, in groups of five, so people know roughly how long they have.
On your feet. A strong voice helps.
Handing out food
You match the number and put food in someone's hands. It is the job everyone remembers being on the other side of.
Standing. Light to moderate lifting.
Loading cars
Tuesdays, families come through by car. You take the number at the window, load the trunk, and keep the block from backing up.
Outdoors. Heavy lifting.
Runner and restock
You keep every table full so nothing ever stops. Watch the handout table, refill before it empties, break down boxes as you go.
Constant movement. Heavy lifting.
Setup and breakdown
An hour before, tables out and the route set. After, chairs back and the floor swept. The two hours nobody sees.
Moderate to heavy lifting.
Closing out
The last thirty minutes. Final counts written down and handed to the lead. Small job, and every number we can show a funder comes from it.
Seated. No lifting.
What a day looks like
You will know your job before you start.
- 1
One hour before
Setup crew opens up, puts tables out and marks the route for cars and walk-ups.
- 2
Doors open
Three-minute huddle. Everyone hears their job out loud before anyone starts.
- 3
The next three hours
The line moves. Roughly 75 to 90 households, around 250 people, come through.
- 4
Last half hour
Counts recorded, equipment away, room reset for the next one.
Bring nothing. Wear shoes you can move in. If you would rather come and watch once before signing up for anything, tell us you are coming and someone will meet you at the door.
Seventy-five years, and it has always been neighbours.
Mack Lewis kept this place open six nights a week because people showed up for it. That has not changed.