Volunteer Spotlight: Food Distribution Pro Allan
How do we get food to kids? Volunteers like Allan play a huge part in that. We want to spotlight the work he and thousands of volunteers do each week to ensure kids don’t go hungry on the weekends. As the end of the school week draws near, food distribution volunteers place food bags directly and discreetly in students’ backpacks to help fill their bellies over the weekend. Thank you Alan!
Hear more from Allan on why he enjoys volunteering at Every Meal (and his thoughts on pickles) by clicking the video below.
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Q: What’s your name and what is your volunteer role at Every Meal?
A: My name is Allan Alt and I am a Weekend Meal Program distributor. I go into the St. Paul Public Schools, and I’ve actually been at four different schools since I started.
Q: What do you enjoy most about volunteering at Every Meal?
A: When I retired, I decided I wanted to work in food insecurity to try to relieve that. And this opportunity came up. My daughter introduced me to Every Meal, and I really like the idea. I love going into the schools and doing the searching to find the locker, find the right backpack, and put the food in. A couple of times we had parents there who were so appreciative. My favorite story is one little boy said, “Oh that’s how the food gets in our backpacks” just as we were putting it in. So, I really enjoy that. It’s a great feeling of helping kids.
Q: Do you have a family food tradition that is important to you?
A: As a family, we get together and make pickles. I go to the farmers market and buy cucumbers and dill and we make pickles together. Sometimes when my sister comes, as many as fifty quarts of pickles. And we also make sauerkraut. We get cabbage. We add salt and apples. Let it ferment. It smells in the basement for a while, and then we can. We’ve done 150 pounds of cabbage. We don’t eat that much sauerkraut but I distribute it to family members.
This volunteer role is very special and is at the heart of what we do at Every. Learn more about how you can become a food distribution volunteer here.