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DePaul Volleyball Volunteers at Chicago's Food Bank
Jan. 12, 2012
CHICAGO – This past Saturday, January 7, the DePaul volleyball team spent time volunteering at the Greater Chicago Food Depository, more commonly known as the “Chicago Food Bank.” The Greater Chicago Depository, which provides about 69 million pounds of food per year to those in need, relies on volunteers to repackage food for immediate delivery to those in need. About 142,000 people rely on the bank’s services per week and, on average, it services about 678,000 people per year. The entire DePaul squad went to the food bank and spent three hours on the “flex line,” an assembly line used to repack emergency boxes. “All of us had different jobs along the line,” sophomore Natalie Rizzo explained. “Ally [Rooks] and I worked on the tape machine that taped the boxes closed and were then stacked in crates. On our second shift, we worked with stacking. Rachel (Aumann) and Katie (Gamsky) were on the scale and they had to weigh every box to ensure that there wasn’t anything missing from the boxes.” These emergency boxes are utilized in the community for individuals who cannot leave their respective residences. The boxes are packed with three to four days worth of food. Aside from working with each other, the team got the chance to work with other volunteer groups. Rizzo continued, “I enjoyed this community service in particular because of how interactive everyone was while working. At first, Ally and I just worked together but when we stepped away from our comfort zone, we got to talk to some awesome people. I really enjoyed interacting with the people who do this service every weekend.” By the end of the session, there were over 32 pallets packed and ready to be placed on a truck that delivers to local individuals in immediate need. Each pallet contains 40 boxes which way about 25 pounds each. At the end of the session, the team helped to repackage 32 complete pallets, accounting for about 32,000 pounds of food.
“There was also so much food we packaged. I couldn't believe how much we did in three hours,” Rizzo said. “I think our team really benefitted from this community service because it was so hands on and introduced us to so many more people.” “I know we will be going back there, as a team or individuals. I think we all realized what an opportunity the food bank gives us, she said” The little tasks that we take part in at the food bank really made a huge impact and that is what we want to do with our time and that's why it was such a great service outing.” “In past service projects, we really worked as a team completing tasks, which is great for funny memories but the interaction with the community at the food bank I think really impacted us,” Rizzo noted. “Everyone there had one goal and we were all complete strangers. It was great to see what people with a common goal can achieve.” For more information on the Greater Chicago Food Depository, visit http://www.chicagosfoodbank.org. |
