PLM Families Together is a unique because it can accept any family into the program - single dads and teenage sons are turned down by other agencies and given high priority at PLMFT. In addition to temporary housing it provides life skill classes and continuing support as families move into permanent housing.

I have been involved in awareness campaigns, life skill classes and several donation drives to support clients with items that are not covered by food stamps. I recently started working with the staff to improve volunteer communication and have found everyone to be very committed.

I volunteer at IFFS every month, usually sorting food or filling backpacks for their Backpack Buddy program. It is amazing how much food comes in and out of their facility every day! There is always something to do and I always get a great workout lifting cans instead of free weights.

The backpacks are given out at local schools on Fridays for students that receive free school lunches to take home and have meals over the weekend. They bring the empty backpacks back on Monday and the cycle starts over. The last time I was there my group of 7 assembled 200 bags in about 90 minutes.

After the recent tornadoes IFFS handed out food to anyone that came without any questions or forms - a true blessing while everyone was still talking to insurance companies, FEMA, etc.

They have other programs that I have not been involved in like a cooking program that prepares hot food while preparing the unemployed for new careers in the restaurant industry.