5 Questions with a Volunteer

Sign up to join the volunteer team here!

Name: Gary Metz

Years Volunteering: 3

1. Why do you volunteer?
I enjoy watching the good that comes from volunteering.  When working I did not have   that much time to volunteer.  Knowing that I am  making a contribution to society is   another reason.  In the process  of volunteering, I have learned a lot more about different issues.

2. What do you do when you are not volunteering?
I enjoy the  outdoors, traveling, working with several other volunteer groups, and doing things with my family. I am also enjoying learning more about photography and a few other new interests. Finding and enjoying some of the great events in Milwaukee and the surrounding areas is another item that my wife and I enjoy.

3. Why do you choose to donate your time to Hunger Task Force?
I knew hunger was a problem, and I thought I might be able to help those in need of help. Doing some volunteer work with Hunger Task Force seemed like a good way to help those going hungry. I did not realize how big a problem hunger was in the Milwaukee area, untill I started to volunteer with Hunger Task Force.  The size of the problem with seniors was something that I did not know that much about before I started to volunteer with Hunger Task Force.

4. Take us behind the scenes. Tell us about an experience you had while volunteering that made you realize you were making a difference.
When I hear or read about all the things Hunger Task Force is doing to help others, I feel great, since I know I am part of the team.

5. What advice would you give someone who is on the fence about volunteering?
Give volunteering a try!  Volunteering becomes fun once you try it.  The chance to            network and work with others is a great benefit.

 

Name: Rudy Williams

Years Volunteering: 2

1. Why do you volunteer?
To help others.

2. What do you do when you are not volunteering?
I spend time with friends and my family.

3. Why do you choose to donate your time to Hunger Task Force?
I lke to keep my time occupied and be busy.

4. What do you find to be the most fulfilling part about volunteering?
Delivering to senior citizens and hearing all their "thank yous".

5. What advice would you give to someone who is on the fence about volunteering?
Helping others is fulfilling and Hunger Task Force is a very worthy and needed cause.

 

Name: Jason and Pat Mierendorf

Years Volunteering: 10

1. Why do you volunteer?
Because we are able to. It’s wonderful to be involved in a program that really makes a difference for such a large amount of people.

2. What do you do when you are not volunteering?
Work, garden, spend time with family, dogs, and friends.

3. Why do you choose to donate your time to Hunger Task Force?
It is fun to participate in all the events, meet  new people, all while helping  a great cause.

4. Take us behind the scenes. Tell us about an experience you had while volunteering that made you realize you made a difference.
There are sooooo many. It’s great to be at collections, and see the looks on people’s faces. You can see how good they feel when making a donation. Being there to thank people is important, also, and THAT makes a difference.

5. What advice would you give someone who is on the fence about volunteering?
Get off the fence, join the fun, and help end hunger.

 

Name: Kirsti Krumsieg

1. Why do you volunteer?
Perhaps my story is a little different from other volunteers, or maybe not. When I was laid off from my job as a Production Graphic Artist, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do.  I did, however, feel inspired to volunteer.  I didn’t know what to expect, but I was excited to give of myself in a new way and contribute to the community.  I am happy to offer my computer talents, learn new skills and expand my horizons.

2. What do you do when you are not volunteering?
I’m doing a variety of things, some of which involve various aspects of a job search like networking, taking computer classes, attending workshops, and going through a process of self discovery.  I also volunteer at Milwaukee Achiever Literacy Services as a tutor & assisting with various projects.  In the beginning of 2009, our family found out my mother had cancer, and I was fortunate enough to be able to support her through her chemotherapy treatments.

I enjoy when our family gets together, usually once a month, to share in engaging conversations, delicious meals and sometimes a blockbuster movie or a walk on a beautiful day.  We also occasionally take road trips for a special birthday, anniversary or event.  Sometimes we will even receive visits from relatives in England and Finland.  I’m also the person in the family who is taking all the pictures of our gatherings; I’ve usually got my digital camera with me taking all different types of pictures.

3. Why do you choose to donate your time to Hunger Task Force?
I have felt such a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment giving to a cause so worthy of a human basic need.  I am in a similar situation, so I can relate and empathize with these people.  I feel like I can be an advocate for them.

4. Take us behind the scenes – an experience.
I have enjoyed giving of my computer skills with various projects, but a time that stands out for me is when I first started.  I was involved in a food sort with Harley Davidson employees.  That was an eye opening experience for me.  Working together as a team, sorting various cans of food, knowing they were going to feed those who weren’t able to buy food for themselves.

5. What advice would you give someone who is on the fence about volunteering.
There is no greater feeling than knowing that you are helping, directly or indirectly, those in need.  Especially in these times of economical and financial difficulty, what a contribution you are serving by giving your talents and time to serving the community.

 

Name: James R. Woods

Years Volunteering: 5

1. Why  do you volunteer?
When I was in business, I worked for myself and my family . As a volunteer, I work for the benefit of others which is a gratifying feeling to know that your can have a major impact on peoples’ lives. I feel part of that impact whenever I volunteer.

2. What do you do when you are not volunteering?
I am a great sports fan especially college football and basketball and in the summer I follow the Brewers. My two married children live in Chicago so my wife and myself are there at least once a month. We especially enjoy seeing our granddaughter who is almost a year old now. Fish fries are a must on Friday nights when we can make it.

3. Why do you choose to donate your time to Hunger Task Force?
Hunger Task Force provides one of the three basic needs of food, shelter and clothing. I wanted to volunteer where I felt that I could help the underprivileged gain access on one of these basic needs. Therefore I wanted to donate my time to Hunger Task Force because they feed so many who do not always have enough food to eat and do so FREE of charge.

4. Take us behind the scenes. Tell us about an experience you had while volunteering that made you realize you were making a difference.
I work with Rick Lewandowski on the Stockbox program (a 35 pound box of commodity food that low income seniors receive monthly). I keep the database of recipient information current. I know that after I list a new recipient, they will be able to receive this box as long as the program continues. It is gratifying to me to be a part of the process and know that this food will satisfy hungry appetites.

5. What advice would you give someone who is on the fence about volunteering?
Volunteering is a wonderful way to express our innate need to help others. It is also a great way to bond with others at the organization and make friends. You will be helping the staff of the organization in working towards a common goal of serving the needs of the people they are working to help.

 

Name: Barbara J. Holt

Years Volunteering: since the '80's

1. Why do you volunteer?
To give something back. My life is very, very blessed. In return, I'm following a family tradition to try to make life a little better for others however I can. And, as people who know me would say, it keeps me out of trouble!

2. What do you do when you are not volunteering?
Catch up with relatives and friends, read, walk, do counted cross stitch, generally anything that doesn't involve housework or getting myself organized at home.

3. Why do you choose to donate your time to Hunger Task Force?
I first volunteered with Hunger Task Force for a Letter Carriers Food Drive when their warehouse was located in the Riverwest neighborhood. I came then in honor of my Dad who was a letter carrier in Port Washington for almost 40 years. In the following years, I was able to help with one or two food sorts, or at Summerfest or State Fair Food Drives, for example.

I wanted to spend one day a week volunteering when I retired. Hunger Task Force attracted me over the years because of the variety of opportunities for getting involved but, more than that, because of the dedication of the staff. They are a very special group of people, a real team.

4. Take us behind the scenes. Tell us about an experience you had while volunteering that made you realize you were making a difference.
I was asked to make up 5 Emergency Boxes one afternoon. There was an immediate need as the boxes were to be delivered that night. True, a staff member could have done the same thing. But, they asked me. (As a volunteer, it's fun not knowing what I'll be doing most of the day when I walk in the door! It's easy for me to be pulled away to help with something that has a higher priority then to add it to a staffer's task list.) I don't know who received the boxes but I know the meals I packed in them would feed the recipients for at least one or more days.

Or, there is the graph I put together in 10 minutes (it helps if you've worked with computer programs for over 20 years). The staffer needed a visual showing 31 produce items the Franklin Farm provides to meal programs. It had to show whether they wanted more, less or the same amount of each. It was a delight creating the graph but even more rewarding knowing I'd saved a staff person a lot of time.

5. What advice would you give someone who is on the fence about volunteering?
Give it a try! There is a wide range of options for helping at Hunger Task Force, from contacting decision makers for advocacy to matching names and addresses for big mailings to my favorite, food sorting.