Volunteering is a give and take. Selfishly in giving your time and helping others leaves you feeling better as a person. Or at least I do.

I have volunteered most of my life. It’s just something I did, whether because school required hours, or my parents had signed the family up for something, or I just needed something else in my life that wasn’t just about me (at least entirely).

As a kid I focused on reading and teaching karate (as an assistant – let’s not think I’m some amazing karate ninja or anything…). At the University of Florida I volunteered as an ambassador showing off the school to interested students and trying to connect students, prospective or current, with the resources they needed. At the University of Pennsylvania I continued my work as an ambassador for my new college and added in some time at the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). When I moved to St Augustine I didn’t volunteer anywhere.

I had plenty of other things to focus on but for some reason that just wasn’t enough. I was missing the community engagement, the feeling of helping others not just myself, and the variety that volunteering naturally brings to your life. So after a few years of nothing I started considering where to volunteer.

I decided I wanted to pick an organization that focused on people locally and that wasn’t related to anything I had studied or currently was working on. I eventually found the St Vincent de Paul Food Pantry (note they have a lovely thrift store I quite enjoy shopping at) and applied.

Food is something I take for granted. That I will have access to it always. That I can have any variety of it I want at any time. That I can eat any of it with no repercussions. It has been so humbling and rewarding to work at the food pantry.

It’s heartbreaking to realize that once a week at least 80 people are asking for help with food security. This food pantry provides boxes twice a week with additional walk up and family visits for support. So double the number, at least. Now consider that these may not be the same people week to week. Add to that who is aware of the resource. How many people really need assistance with food in my county alone?

St Vincent de Paul Food Pantry is just one of several in the county. Feeding Northeast Florida has a really nice map search feature where you can input your zip code and it will list and show you local food pantries in your area. Try the map here: https://feedingnefl.org/find-food-now/#googtrans(en|en)

An alternative to food pantries would be programs like those provided by the USDA including SNAP and WIC. Both programs provide assistance to those in need to access food and other health resources. WIC specializes in providing resources to women and infants. Honestly, before I became involved in the food pantry I hadn’t considered the range of needs or the variety of resources that might exist or need to exist. I hope that these resources will be seen for the incredible resources they are and maintained.

Whether they do or not knowing that the St Vincent de Paul food pantry exists, and many others in the county, and that I can help prepare boxes with produce, meat, and additional goodies for those in need helps. I hope that the resources listed here help those in my own county and give those not in this county something to consider and research for themselves.

The USDA has a variety of more academic resources that help give insight into the process of identifying/surveying for food insecurity as well as tips on additional ways to address food security in times of high stress. The resources vary in skimability – some are a little more academic but if you’re interested in the data collection and analysis side this is a nice place to start. Consider the Community Food Security Assessment Toolkit or Emergencies and Food Safety Page.

I have not come across too many opportunities in my work yet to address food security. However, community gardens, edible landscapes, and food forests are both wonderful ways to incorporate food security into a community. I love that these designs often hide themselves in plain sight and empower the community to be self sufficient. Between food security and native resilient landscapes I have plenty to look forward to learning about and incorporating once I’m licensed.

Even if you don’t work on food security, feed your heart and the community’s by volunteering, by giving freely what time you have to make this place a community and not just another spot on Earth.