“Each month Dublin Food Pantry volunteers make over 60 trips to our retail partners. These partner stores are committed to minimizing waste and supporting the Pantry through donations of perishable foods.”
Bev Ross, pantry Transportation Director since 2012, also pointed out: “Our transportation team of volunteers drive their own vehicle or, in some cases, the pantry cargo van. There is a lot of loading and unloading – in all kinds of weather. It is a coordinated effort of generous donors and hardworking volunteers who sort and distribute the perishable foods.”
Collecting a distributing perishable food – quality meat, produce, dairy items and bakery goods – is a crucial part of the Dublin Food Pantry’s operation.
Jim Wilson, Director of Operations, noted that in addition to the donations of perishable food from retailers, the pantry cargo van is driven to Mid-Ohio Foodbank twice a week collecting between1,200 to 1,500 pounds of perishable foods weekly. Jim said, “Some months the total is higher depending on supplies but typically, 20,000 pounds of perishable food is collected and distributed each month at Dublin Food Pantry.”
When Bev Ross signed up to pick up deliveries for the pantry 14 years ago in 2008, she might not have imagined that her work would become one of the reasons that the Dublin Food Pantry can readily offer healthy produce, fresh breads, dairy products, and a variety of meat to customers of the pantry.
Bev’s responsibilities include scheduling regular donations of perishables from local retailers amongst a group of more than 20 Volunteer Drivers. She enjoys the work and commented, “the businesses that donate are friendly and helpful and once the food arrives back at the pantry, the team-work is fantastic. Drivers pick up varying amounts that work for them, so while one driver may pick up as much as 800 pounds of frozen meat every week, others collect smaller amounts at locations that fit into their weekly schedules. Our cargo van drivers might collect about 1,500 pounds of perishable food (along with thousand’s more pounds of shelf-stable food) from Mid-Ohio Food Bank each week. It is important work, and our volunteers are incredible.”
It is easy for Bev to remember her start date as a volunteer because it coincides with her youngest starting college. Now all three of her children are married, and Bev along with her husband Jeff, love spending time with their family which now includes four grandchildren.
As busy as Bev is, when asked, “why do you volunteer for the pantry?” Bev’s answer was immediate: “I love working at Dublin Food Pantry. I’m continually impressed by the dedication of our volunteers, the generosity of our donors, and the warmth and appreciation of our clients. It’s fun to connect with all of these people while working for our common purpose.”
Thank you to our retail perishable food donors/suppliers:
- 3 Kroger Stores (Bridge St. + Hospital Dr. + Powell Rd.)
- Trader Joe’s (Sawmill Rd.)
- Whole Foods Market (161/Sawmill)
- Meijer (Sawmill Rd.)
- Aldi (Sawmill Pkwy)
- 2 Giant Eagle Stores (Sawmill Rd. + Powell Rd.)
- FedEx (Industrial Pkwy)
- Mid-Ohio Foodbank
Thank you to our Transportation Team:
Anne, Ben, Betsy, Bev, Blake, Bob, Dick, Jeff, Jeff, Joe, Katy, Laura, Marko, Megan, Mike, Phil, Rich, Rick, Susan, Tom, Vicki
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Written by Patte Widerschein