Welcome to the first installment of a series unveiling the diverse array of volunteer opportunities available at HCCM. In today's spotlight, we shine a light on the dynamic world of Retail Donation Pickup – a crucial mission that makes a significant impact.
Each day, volunteers drive their personal vehicles to area stores to pick up produce, bakery, deli, dairy, and meat donations. H-E-B, Randall’s, Sprouts, Natural Grocers, Target, and Whole Foods donate thousands of pounds of food every week. Occasionally, the volume of donations is so substantial that we deploy our trusty HCCM trucks or vans to ensure nothing goes to waste. Also, some local restaurants, such as Chick-Fil-A and Papa John’s, donate food that was either
not sold or ordered and the customer didn’t pick it up. The store and restaurant donations are distributed in the pantry, community cupboard, and even at the Fresh Food for All distributions.
We currently have about 28 drivers on our list, including several husband/wife, father/daughter, and sister/sister teams! Several of these drivers do multiple routes a week. These routes are generally done in the mornings between 7 am and 10 am, with approximately 37 scheduled pickups from Monday through Friday.
In the limelight is Jim Ash, a beacon of commitment among our volunteers. Jim not only adheres to a regular schedule of 4-5 stores per week but also stands in as a reliable substitute whenever duty calls. His dedication extends to our monthly pickup at the Austin Diaper Bank, a partnership that brings baby diapers, wipes, and feminine products to those in need.
Jim is our Sunshine Award winner this month. He joyfully answers the call so often for us! He is a pleasant ray of sunshine when he arrives with the donations in the mornings. Jim has been volunteering at HCCM for almost 3 years.
As our efforts and community partnerships grow, so does the need for additional volunteers. We are currently seeking a few more drivers, as several of our drivers are helping multiple times a week. Also, our donations from Target have increased greatly – so much that we have to take the van or sometimes our big truck to transport these items back to the pantry. We are actively seeking a new team member to partner with our Target driver regularly to help move the
product.
If you are looking for a volunteer position that would allow you to help for a couple of hours in the morning once a week, please complete a volunteer application here: https://www.volgistics.com/appform/809266279 or reach out to Kandy Chimento at [email protected].
