When I arrived at the GreenHouse Food Bank, LaNette was a long-time GreenHouse Board Member and volunteer helping hold the organization steady between the departure of the prior director in November ’21 and my start in February ’22.
It wasn’t long before I realized this spunky worker bee, doing as much as her congestive heart failure would allow, was a very special person who loved God with all her strength. At that time she was helping with the bookkeeping at her church, Happy Home, as well as helping with the bookkeeping for the foodbank. She was a voice at the board meetings for the specific needs of our clients such as access to computers.
LaNette served as a GreenHouse Board member for over a decade. Board members remember her never ending love and passion for the GreenHouse. In January of 2024, we dedicated the GreenHouse Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon to LaNette’s memory. Before she died, she told us to have a wonderful party and celebrate with her that she is in heaven now with the Lord she loves. And so we did.
Libby Elizabeth Fitzgerald, Director GreenHouse Food Bank
Steve and Linda have been volunteering at the GreenHouse for two and a half years. They moved to Deer Park after living in Florida, where they were serving as missionaries for their church.
In Florida the Rau’s volunteered at a large food bank, and after they got settled in Deer Park, they joined the team at the GreenHouse.
Steve drives the Grocery Rescue Van every Wednesday to pick up donations from area stores. Linda is the “volunteer who coordinates the volunteer schedule” in addition to pitching in to help and substitute whenever she is needed. In their down time, Steve loves to fish, and Linda loves to quilt, sew, and track her family’s genealogy. Why do the Raus volunteer at the GreenHouse? Linda says it’s because they are motivated to serve because of their religion, that they are called to serve their fellow man, that giving to others feels good, and that they are retired and have the time to do it. The entire team at the GreenHouse is grateful to have the Raus as part of our family!
Donna has been volunteering with the GreenHouse since January 2023.
She volunteers on the morning shift, Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays stocking shelves and putting out fresh produce.
She often stays to help clients with our grocery rescue part of their shopping experience for the first hour that the GreenHouse is open. Donna then leaves to pick her grandchildren up from school. Donna is a wonderful, cheerful presence at the GreenHouse and our team is happy to work with her.
Why Donna Volunteers:
“I volunteer because I love to help out my community. I feel happier when I help other people. That’s part of my personality though because I’ve been like this my whole life. Volunteering makes people feel fulfilled.”
Teri volunteers at the GreenHouse on Wednesdays and Fridays as a client shopping assistant.
Teri says six years ago she was looking for somewhere to volunteer and found the GreenHouse from word of mouth.
“I just really really enjoy it,” she says of her time serving. “I enjoy helping people. This is a community that really really needs a food bank.”
Over the years, Teri has become a favorite volunteer with several clients, who ask for her specifically to assist them as they shop for their food. “There’s a lot of people I really, really enjoy,” she says.
Why volunteer at a food bank? “It’s humbling,” Teri says. “You think you have problems in your life, but here you learn that you aren’t the only one. Humility grounds you.”
Teri adds that no one should feel bad for asking for help at the GreenHouse. “If you need food, you need food. We’re here to help you!”
We love our volunteers! August volunteer spotlight:
Terence Holdiman
Terence has been volunteering with the GreenHouse, “since the very beginning, back when it was located at the Lutheran Church” in Deer Park, he says. “I did take off three years.”
Greenhouse patrons almost never see Terence. He works in the morning as one of several volunteers who get the warehouse ready so we can be open in the afternoons for our clients. Terence volunteers more than 10 hours per week riding in the GreenHouse Grocery Rescue Van. The van travels to 4-6 stores each day the GreenHouse is open, picking up donated foods from area grocery stores. Terence helps load and unload the rescue van and keeps track of the paperwork that tallies how much product each store donates.
“It feels good to help–it’s something good to do,” Terrence says, and then laughs. “Otherwise I’d be home all day. That’s where my cat wants me to be.”
Matt has been volunteering for the Greenhouse since 2013. He comes every day the Greenhouse is open to stock our grocery rescue breads, sweets, and desserts. Matt also helps portion bulk human foods into smaller bags for our families. He also enjoys it when the Greenhouse gets bags of donated dog and cat food. Matt will portion kibble into ziplock bags so that people’s fur babies get a good meal too.
Matt says he is a good leader and he gets along with everyone on the Greenhouse team. He serves his community by volunteering at the Greenhouse because, “When people want me to help, I can do that! It feels great being part of a team!”
