Tara Scott was looking for something to do with her children that gave her a chance to serve the local community. The problem: finding something that was feasible for small helping hands to accomplish. Then she discovered the opportunities at the Wichita Falls Area Food Bank!
What started as a way to involve her immediate family soon expanded as she invited her fellow Classical Conversation (A nationwide homeschooling co-op) parents and teachers to help.
“We put out a Facebook event to offer opportunities for other campuses and individuals to participate,” she says. “We come the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at two different times to accommodate differing schedules.”
With three campuses in Wichita Falls, there are a lot of little hands available to help, and we certainly appreciate all of them! Young volunteers range in age from three to 13 — even some toddlers tag along for the ride!
“We usually help with the [PowerPak 4 Kids BackPack Program] but in the summer we help however we can. Anything from stacking boxes to bagging produce,” Tara shares.
She says the volunteer work is a good way for children to realize the needs of those around them, and how they can be part of the solution.
“Children these days can get a myopic view of what childhood is like, what family is like,” Tara says, noting volunteer service can help them “realize what they have and how they can be a blessing.”
During the COVID-19 outbreak, the Food Bank has limited all volunteer service to keep all involved safe. It has been yet another reminder of how much our volunteers do for this community — and how much every act of service means.
