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!”
