My First Food Sort

You’re standing on the edge of a long conveyor belt. You look up at the sign above you. You are “Canned Vegetables.” The belt turns on, and the biggest pile of canned green beans you’ve ever seen is coming at you. You get ready; your palms sweat. But suddenly, as you start grabbing cans, you realize how much fun you’re having! It’s your first food sort, and you’re helping build the boxes of food that will feed Milwaukee. Read on to learn about the adventures and experiences of first-time food sorters…then sign up to volunteer to become a Hunger Task Force food sort legend!

Go Getters Go At It

When: February 6, 2010

Who: Marquette University Go-Getters

College students getting up early on a Saturday morning? It’s no myth, because the Marquette University Go Getters—a student-run business club—were at Hunger Task Force bright and early on February 6 to participate in their first food sort.

Being a first time group, some of the students were not quite sure what to expect. Some students thought they would be working in a small food pantry environment, while others expected a quiet room where they would fill boxes with food in a “slow process.” They were a little bit surprised when they saw a giant warehouse with food stacked to the ceilings and a large sort room fully equipped with a 50 foot conveyor belt.

Faye Telecky was one of the surprised, although she admitted a tinge of excitement when the first wave of peanut butter came at her. “It surprised me how fast-paced the process was, and how important teamwork became,” said Telecky. “I was also helping those sorting canned vegetables and dinner protein…it was really exciting each time we got a huge pile to sort through!”

After finding her rhythm at the fruit station, Colleen McDonnell also noticed how many different items were coming through on the belt. “What surprised me the most was the variety of items that people donate to Hunger Task Force…the food sort helped me to realize that people don’t just need or want basic food—they want to have a variety of foods just like the rest of us.”

As the students quickly went from rookies to a well-oiled food sorting machine, their perceptions about the food sort and Milwaukee’s hunger problem really came into focus. “Obviously, with the recession hitting Milwaukee hard there has been an increase in the demand for these food pantries,” said JP Seral. “Looking at the enormous amount of food that we sorted at Hunger Task Force, I really gained a better appreciation of the need that is out there and how generous the giving is,” added Joel Mishork.

By the end of the sort, the Go Getters truly lived up to their name. They sorted 27,000 pounds of food in just under 3 hours, and many were anxious to come back and do it again. Their hard work and enthusiasm truly made a difference for many families in Milwaukee. Thank you Go Getters!