Super Betty

Written by: Kate Snyder, Executive Assistant

Today’s “Meet the Volunteer” post focuses on Betty, one of EECM’s Hunger Programs Superheroes. Betty faithfully volunteers two mornings a week, and when she’s there, she is a whirlwind of activity.

She usually arrives by 8am (earlier than many people are willing to roll out of bed!) and helps prepare bags of groceries for the Food Pantry. When clients come to the Pantry in the afternoon, they receive two large paper grocery sacks full of staples – pasta, spaghetti sauce, peanut butter and jelly, macaroni and cheese, canned soup, etc. (And in case you didn’t notice, those are indeed the same items that we list as our Food of the Month items). Thanks to Betty, those bags are packed and waiting well in advance of the afternoon Pantry rush.

Betty also helps unload the daily delivery from Whole Foods, sorts the donations and helps to set up the “extras room” which houses the fresh bread and produce and some of the miscellaneous donations that we receive (like taco sauce or the pretzel chips you see in the picture).

One of the other roles Betty fills for us is that of Food Pantry receptionist. She cheerfully answers the Pantry telephone that tends to ring incessantly. This may seem like a small thing but it is a lifesaver. The staff in our Hunger Programs are really busy and fielding the calls – many of which are general inquiries – could easily consume their entire day. So we’re grateful that Betty takes charge of that task!

Betty’s road to “EECM Volunteer” included a stop at “EECM Client” – she is a graduate of our PennFree transitional housing program. Betty is a bi-polar recovering addict and her road to recovery has been bumpy and not without its setbacks. But she is currently celebrating 18 months clean and welcomes the opportunity to volunteer with EECM as a way of giving back to the organization that has supported her along the way.

Keep your eyes out for EECM’s Winter Newsletter which features an article about Betty!