My Nonprofit Reviews

7/17/2012: I stopped by Ecumenical Hunger Program in East Palo Alto to ask about potential volunteer opportunities for groups. They had an information sheet detailing different options, but they also needed help right now. They were preparing for their monthly food distribution, and needed help splitting the pallets of groceries into boxes for the 80-100 families that would be showing up in a little bit more than an hour. I offered to stick around, and was soon at work packing boxes: 2 large cans of pear halves, 3 smaller ones of peaches, 2 packs of tortillas, 4 smaller cans of apple sauce, 2 pound bags each of rice and pinto beans, a 64-oz bottle of spiced cranberry juice, a half-gallon of milk, a 2 pound bag of pre-washed salad, a watermelon and a cantaloupe. Other groups were packing meats (not sure of all that went into it, but looked to be a dozen eggs, a one-pound pack of hot dogs, a one-pound tube of ground sausage, and 2 1-pound packs of cold cuts (baloney or ham). A third group was packing fruits and vegetables. This being summer in California, there was a nice selection of nectarines, oranges, broccoli, corn, onions and probably more that I didn’t see.

At 5 PM, not only was the distribution done, but the area had been restored to its prior, clean state. Empty boxes were gone. The leftovers were in the food pantry. The tables were taken down and stored, and the parking lot had been swept. It was a remarkable display of efficiency, taking the volunteer efforts of probably a dozen people, some of us first-timers, and getting a large task done in a short time. Staff members Suliana and Jackie deserve credit for getting us all together to get everything done. Overall, a very positive experience.

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