Gratitude Tour

Seventeen years ago I started volunteering at the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC. It quickly became a passion. This year is my last year on the main board as I am term limited out. I am chairing the personnel committee as my swan song since it is the one thing I have not done. Over the years the Food Bank has grown from a handful of employees to over a hundred at six branches across North Carolina.

The people who work at the Food Bank are hard working, kind and dedicated. This year has been extraordinary in that they provided a record amount of food to those in need, dispensed emergency service during Hurricane Mathew and the months that followed and renovated and moved into a new headquarters.  

As a member of the board I felt like it was important for us to personally meet and thank every staff member for the work they are doing. Today was my first visit of what I am calling the “Gratitude Tour.” I spent the afternoon at the main Raliegh headquarters, where over sixty of the staff work.

I walked the building and talked to truck drivers, warehouse coordinators, volunteer services people, finance administrators, food drive coordinators, food and nutrition services program supervisors, house keepers, food resources managers and many more. I asked people how long they had worked there, from my friend Earline who has been there 27 years to the three new employees who started 3 days ago, and thanked each one for all they do.

After my walk about I went to the branch wide meeting where I told them not just how much the board appreciated them and all they do for hungry people in North Carolina, but that I love them, and I meant it. I wish that I had longer with each individual, but they have lots of work to do. I hope they all felt the heart felt appreciation that the board of director and I have for them. They are not just employees, but are true angels. It is such a privilege to be associated with them.