Fife High School Volunteers
Every Tuesday and Thursday morning, a team of students from Fife High School arrives at Food Lifeline to help sort and pack food for Food Lifeline. While many schools volunteer at Food Lifeline, this group is unique.
“These are young adults with disabilities,” says Fife High School Paraeducator Kim Elliott. “They’ve finished their high school classes, and now they are learning vocational skills that will help them gain independence.”
Miguel comes here every week. Today, he helps weigh and bag black beans.
“The people here are busy working. And so are we.”
And that ‘busy’ is opening up a new world to these young adults.
“These kids are being thanked. They’re being a part of the community. They feel that. They know that. From the minute they walk in the door, they are a part of what is happening here.”
That’s especially important for Isabella, who shows up every week dressed with “bling” and gives high-fives to everyone she meets.
“I wash my hands and put on the gloves, and then I have a nametag. Then I help work.” She says. Today she’s on “salmon duty” today.
“Today, we put cans of salmon in the boxes and then put writing on them. To help out,” she says with a huge smile. “I like to write. I’m in charge of writing.”
This volunteer work creates a new experience for them and helps them learn social skills that allow them to feel more connected.
“I like being part of the job.” Says Miguel. “I like being respectful to someone. To have them know my name.”
Elliott pitches in on every sort, and says this work is critical in their development.
“I see such amazing changes in them. They are learning to communicate; they are gaining voices. They are blossoming in this program, and the work here is an important part of that.”
But Miguel tells us what’s really important here.
“If people are hungry, we help by making boxes of food, and they’re ready to go. For free.”
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.