Stories

10 Jan

Jacqui’s Garden: Fighting Hunger with Garden-Fresh Veggies

In January, the very coldest part of winter, it’s hard to think of a time when the sun will shine and new plants—including garden veggies —will grow. But that’s a time Jacqui Sakowski, a retired small business owner, looks forward to all year round. What might be most unique about Jacqui’s gardening is what she does with what its produces: Jacqui donates it to local food pantries like MOM.

12 Jan

Jacqui's Garden Journal: A Break from the Heat

Food Pantry Garden • Volunteers

In this entry in her garden journal dated June 12, Jacqui Sakowski shares some experiences growing fresh veggies for MOM's food pantry. After retiring as a small business owner, Jacqui dived into gardening, a passion she developed when she moved to the Midwest from England years ago. Recognizing she could grow more than she could ever eat, Jacqui decided to garden with a new purpose: to provide fresh vegetables to those who struggled with hunger.

11 Jan

Jacqui's Garden Journal: Tomatoes and Basil Planted

Food Pantry Garden • Volunteers

In this entry in her garden journal dated May 27, Jacqui Sakowski shares some experiences growing fresh veggies for MOM's food pantry. After retiring as a small business owner, Jacqui dived into gardening, a passion she developed when she moved to the Midwest from England years ago. Recognizing she could grow more than she could ever eat, Jacqui decided to garden with a new purpose: to provide fresh vegetables to those who struggled with hunger.

09 Jan

Standard Imaging Volunteers Make a Difference

Food Pantry • Volunteers • Businesses

For any business, time is money. So imagine a business finding the time to allow an employee to be out of the office one afternoon each week, all year round. Standard Imaging has done just that every week for the past 382 weeks—since September of 2010. They have accumulated hundreds of hours of volunteer service. A commitment like this demonstrates to us at MOM that Standard Imaging has a work culture of volunteering and that making an impact for good in their community is one of their priorities.

23 Dec

Mission: Possible

food pantry • Housing Assistance • Client Stories • MOM News • donors • Volunteers • Organizations and Groups • businesses • churches

Our families and individuals are up against what can seem like insurmountable odds. They will bring with them incredible courage and resilience, and we will be here to offer the help and hope needed to help them get through tough times. MOM has the privilege to distribute hope in times of darkness and in times of joy.

22 Nov

From Struggle to Strength, to Service

Volunteers • Food Pantry

“As a volunteer, nothing beats walking a family through a food pantry for the first time. To me, volunteering means being the smiling face to families who are stressed. I just say, “Let’s get some food. It’s going to be alright.”

02 Sep

The Food System doesn't take a Holiday

Food Pantry • Collaborations • Volunteers

MOM had an extra busy day in its sorting area on Friday. An extra twenty volunteers filled the pantry during a normally quiet afternoon, unloading and sorting pallets upon pallets of boxes of food, thanks to two extra truck fulls of food, given to MOM by Second Harvest Food Bank.

29 Oct

Meet the Volunteers behind those piles of clothing!

Clothing Center • Volunteers

Hats, mittens, and gloves off to the amazing volunteers who donate their time in the MOM Clothing Center! Through their efforts, MOM continues to be a place where our neighbors feel comfortable visiting and leave with smiles on their faces (and a new outfit!)

01 Mar

Volunteer Spotlight: Janet Bybee

Volunteers

You probably know Janet because, for more than seven years, she has dedicated her time and heart to MOM’s mission, clients and volunteers as often as she can.