Robert Grubbs has worked as a Production Core Volunteer every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon for the last six or seven years. He’s been volunteering at Food Lifeline for so long that new employees are now directed to him if they have questions.
After retiring, Robert was looking for something to do that would benefit the community. He landed at Food Lifeline. Initially it was just 4 or 5 people doing grocery rescue in one of the smaller areas of the warehouse. Then they moved out to the main production area as the organization kept expanding and growing.
His role has grown over the years as well. “My role expanded from being a couple day a week volunteer just sorting produce to now I’m sort of liaison with whoever is running the crew,” he says. “I’ve done it so much I see what needs to be done and can do it before they ask me.”
Why do this? “Exercise!” responds Robert immediately. “This past Tuesday I was running a pallet jack hauling 1100 pounds of potatoes per pallet. Also helping volunteers lift 40 lbs boxes onto pallets, wrapping pallets, running around grabbing boxes.”
“I don’t have to go to the gym, I come here!” jokes Robert.
Of course, he also loves the sense of community, and the social aspects of working with both the staff and the volunteers. One group of volunteers told Bob during their session that if they didn’t know what to do they would ask each other, “Well, what would Bob do?”
Robert laughs. “It’s fun to interact with folks.”
He deeply values the positive impact he can have on his community through volunteering as well as the social interactions. “It’s a good thing for the community, a good thing for me, and I feel like I’m valued.”
What would he say to someone who is thinking about doing this? “Do it!” he says without missing a beat. “It’s a great thing to do, and there are such good people volunteering here. It’s fun to get to know these people and work with them.”
