GEORGETOWN, Del.- Following safety guidelines while helping those less fortunate. That is what the Food Bank of Delaware (FBD) has assured people who sign up to volunteer.
However, a big push for more volunteers was needed. Food Bank of Delaware's Communications Manager Kim Turner sent out the call for help last week after only seven volunteers were signed up for the Georgetown mobile pantry. She told WRDE that sign-ups are a small problem in Kent and Sussex Counties because of people going back to work and parents transporting children to and from school.
Other leaders like Community Relations Director Chad Robinson knows that the volunteers were willing to come out and about 100 of them showed up today.
"It's always difficult to make sure that we have volunteers to cover all of these folks that come out to these events," Robinson said. "You're never quite sure what that number is going to look like. But, as always the people of Delaware, the people of Sussex County stepped up today. We have more than enough volunteers today which makes us happy. It's very heartwarming to know that the people of Delaware step up when we have a need."
Members of the Delaware Humane Association were supplying dog food and cat food to pet owners. Although wearing a mask, you could see volunteers like Vanessa Briddell were happy to be there and that the driving force is being able to help those in need.
"You never know what situation you are going to find yourself in throughout life," Briddell said. "Anytime you are afforded the opportunity to help someone in need or help an organization, it's important to feed back to the community to be a part of because that's what makes us all one unit."
The group of volunteers is making a difference and plan to continue despite the rough times.
"People are still in need," Briddell added. "All of our goals is to live through the pandemic. But, to live through it is not contract COVID, but to also ensure that people are not starving and people have what they need to eat. It's important for us all to be a part of it when we can."
Robinson encourages those who are in need of food to visit the food bank's website and social media channels for upcoming events, specifically pop-up mobile pantries that are not scheduled ahead of time.
