Lighter hearts for volunteers who give their time

When Kevin and Jane Sutton heard a priest mention Catholic Charities’ food distribution ministry, they knew it was just the help they were seeking.

And not because they were in need of food themselves, but because they wanted to be the help. The married couple and recent retirees were looking for a way to give back.

This past March, when they heard Msgr. Michael Hazard mention in his homily that the food distribution ministry was seeking volunteers, they both immediately said, “We’re doing that.”

Kevin, who had retired in December 2019, explains that he spent his first few months relaxing but was growing restless. “It’s like an angel arrived during that homily,” he explains, “and gifted us both with just the help we needed.”

“Most of my working life I hadn’t really had the opportunity to share much of my resources other than financial and that felt shallow,” he says.

“This volunteer work is like having my faith hit the ground running but also knowing that it’s a marathon — meaning there’s plenty of need.”

Currently, Catholic Charities distributes perishable and non-perishable food boxes to more than 600 families a week across the diocese. There are distribution centers set up in Battle Creek, Three Rivers, Allegan, St. Joseph and Coldwater. Those seeking help simply call a number. Other people are identified by partnering organizations such as the United Methodist Church and the YWCA. A small but mighty army of more than 85 volunteers packs the food at the main distribution center in Portage and delivers the food to the families.

For Jane and Kevin, their volunteering started at just a few hours delivering the food boxes. It wasn’t long before they both realized they wanted to do more. So they started packing the food boxes and then found themselves staying to clean up and restock.

Today, they are both volunteer leads for the project and Kevin is using the organizational skills he honed throughout his professional career.

And while their commitment has grown from an initial few hours to more than 10 a week, they both insist it’s a labor of love.

“People who volunteer want to be here,” says Kevin. “They jump in and fix any problems that come up.

 Jane agrees, “With anything there’s going to be a few hiccups but all the [volunteers] do what’s needed.”

One of the most gratifying aspects of volunteering is witnessing the impact.

Kevin recalls vividly one of the very first deliveries he made. He was greeted with an outpouring of gratitude by a woman and wasn’t even back to his car when he saw that she was already sharing her food with her neighbors. Jane recalls the elderly woman in a wheelchair who needed help unloading her groceries and ended up speaking with her for 15 minutes.

“You want people to know they’re not alone; they’re not forgotten,” she says.

Jane, who adds that she’s grown in admiration for the people facing struggles and having the humility to ask and receive help, hopes the food distribution ministry will have a domino effect on all involved from volunteers to recipients.

“I hope because they’ve been shown compassion that they’ll turn around and give,” she says.

Why else should one volunteer?

Kevin says the answer is in the Gospel.

“We hear in the Gospel Jesus saying, ‘You’re not alone — I’m always with you.’ I see myself as Jesus instrument

 — being those silent footsteps that are helping lighten
someone’s load.”

“When we feel that restlessness within us,” adds Jane, “it’s God nudging us to look beyond ourselves. And then when we answer that call to action, He gives us this gift of feeling good and a lightness of heart.”
 

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Catholic Charities Food Distribution
BY THE NUMBERS
(SINCE MARCH 31, 2020)  

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INTERESTED GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS:
If your group or organization would like more information or a presentation about the Emergency Response Food Program, contact Eric Hoffman, program supervisor, at [email protected] or 269.381.9800 or visit www.ccdok.org.

TO RECEIVE FOOD:
Call 269.910.3578 and you will be added to the weekly distribution list
(leave a message if the phone is not answered and they will call you back within 24 hours).

TO VOLUNTEER:
Email [email protected] to learn more.