This is the second year Karen and I have volunteered for the annual Father Fred Foundation food drive in the Traverse City, MI area. It’s a great local organization that provides many services to those in need.
The food drive lasts for a week and partners up with local supermarkets to collect food donations to their food pantry. Volunteers greet customers and hand out fliers near the entrance of the supermarkets requesting food donations. If the customer wishes to donate they purchase food items while doing their shopping and drop them off on their way out of the store.
Many people here know of the good work that the Father Fred Foundation does in the local area and are happy to help out. Some of the donations are more than generous. We box up the food in banana boxes and the Foundation stops by to pick up the loaded boxes.
The Father Fred Foundation was started by a Catholic priest named, you guessed it, Father Fred in the Traverse City, MI area. It grew into such a large foundation that it became independent from the Catholic Church and is now non-denominational. In addition to providing a food pantry to those in need they also provide clothing assistance, help with heating bills, and other basic needs. Their website is here.
Volunteering with the food drive is one small way of giving back to those less fortunate. As their website mentions, it only takes one life event to put someone on a path to needing a bit of help. We’re happy to give some of our time to an organization that makes such a positive difference in peoples lives.
