Once a month, a group of volunteers from Miller’s Grant, a retirement community in Howard County, head to the Columbia Community Care food pantry to volunteer.
“We started out with volunteers helping at the distribution site in Long Reach,” said Monica Fortner, who coordinates the Miller’s Grant volunteers and serves as a liaison with CCC. “We collect donations in the lobby, and bring those to CCC once or twice a month, depending on how much is collected. During the holidays I often fill my whole car!”
The program started as part of Miller’s Grant “Open Hands, Open Hearts” outreach initiative, which connects residents with ways to serve the community. Fortner says they typically have three to ten volunteers monthly, and many of them have been participating since the program started. In addition to in-person service and collection boxes, she also organizes a collection of bulk goods a few times a year.
“We break the bulk donations down in to smaller quantities,” Fortner explained. “This gives people who are unable to volunteer at a distribution site the opportunity to get involved with community service.”
Food is not the only thing the Miller’s Grant community is giving. Fortner and her team try to support in as many ways as they can. They recently helped with the headquarters relocation and repairs to food pantry supplies.
“We have a woodworking group here in the community, so when a few of the volunteers noticed that CCC’s food carts needed some repairs, our woodworkers were able to help,” said Fortner.
Fortner says the enthusiasm of the food pantry staff is most rewarding, and she appreciates the positive feedback from the team.
“I am really impressed with the network of volunteers CCC has developed, and the work they are doing,” said Fortner. “We contribute only a small part, but we are happy to do what we can. April and Megan [site coordinators] have been so kind and enthusiastic, it is really rewarding for us. And, obviously people need help so we are happy to give it.”
She hopes to be able to do more for CCC as the relationship evolves, including getting involved with youth programs, which she says would be enriching for both the young people and the seniors.
“Maybe we could teach a group of young people how to knit!” said Fortner. “It would be fun to get more involved, and I think there is a lot we could teach them, and learn from each other.”