Provide healthy food to low-income families and individuals. Be a friendly face to help those in need feel comfortable while seeking assistance. Set a good example to her son and teach him the importance of volunteering. These are just a few reasons Staci chooses to volunteer at United Way member agency Mother Hubbard's Cupboard.
Staci knows from her own experience how difficult it can be to come in for assistance that first time. Agencies like Mother Hubbard's Cupboard are essential for many families to obtain nutritious, healthy food. Locally, 1 in 5 children experience hunger. For Staci, being able to access a welcoming food pantry has provided vital nutrients to her growing 6-year-old son, Forest.
In addition to a food pantry stocked with healthy food available for no charge to community members in need, Mother Hubbard's Cupboard also provides over 60 nutrition education classes per year. Class topics range from baking bread and canning to making your own baby food and composting. But all topics share one thing in common. They aim to teach economical ways of cooking or growing that allows everyone to have access to healthy food.
To give back to an agency that has given so much to their family, Staci has volunteered regularly for the past 4 years. Forest began accompanying his mom this past year and has been learning firsthand the importance of volunteering. Staci hopes the good experience Forest is having combined with seeing his mother giving her time will influence him to continue volunteering as he grows older.
And spending their time volunteering together offers many teachable moments. It can be difficult for a six-year-old, or an adult, to see the impact a small action, such as mopping the floor, can have in an agency. Staci helped explain this to Forest, "Small acts, by lots of volunteers, combine to have a great effect and do so much for the organization. It allows the staff to better serve the community." This point really resonated with Forest and he's now thinking about more volunteer options that can connect him to the community and his interest in animals.
Staci enjoys nurturing a sense of volunteerism in her son. She also would like to see more people get involved by volunteering and raising funds to help members of our community. This was why she worked with friend and photographer Paula M. Grez to submit a photo to United Way's "This is How I Live United" photo contest. Their captivating image won first place in the Essentials category and is currently featured throughout United Way's campaign materials and included in the roving Live United gallery (next stop at the Monroe County Public Library starting Nov 21st).
With volunteers like Staci and Forest, and the support of United Way, Mother Hubbard's Cupboard is able to distribute thousands of pounds of food every day, and put over a million pounds a year into the hands (and bellies) of at-risk families. Amanda Nickey, the President and CEO of Mother Hubbard's Cupboard, commented "We know if we need help resolving an issue, United Way and their member agency network is there to help us."
The whole community coming together to help fulfill everybody's needs is what "Live United" means to Staci. Staci also sees the Live United spirit every time her family volunteers because, "We are together. This is us being united." Thanks, Staci and Forest, for inspiring us to Live United!
