Everyone is always in a good mood when there is food around but what about those who are less fortunate and they do not know where their next meal will come from? Jessica and I teamed up with Chef Brandi, our dad and a few other generous volunteers to prepare meals for the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, a non profit organization serving our home town of Northeast Ohio.
 “Small Step Make Big Differences” is a phrase that we apply to many aspects of our lives and is the foundation of Hands-On Health. we were surprised to learn that the GCFB feeds over 4,000 low income individuals a day. Our small contribution of preparing the fruits and vegetables for the following day  assisted with the overall goal in feeding all of those people.
Our team worked on morning prep for chopping over 30 pounds of fresh vegetables for three different meals. It was amazing to see all of the strategic planning that goes on behind the scenes
The experience has changed the way that we both think about food. As students, we remember collecting donations to be sent to this facility with different organizations but we really didn’t the extent of the impact. Now we have an understanding to of the multiple sources of donations, how the  food is sorted and stored  and and how it is distributed. After we toured the huge warehouse stocked with inventory, Chef Brandi showed us the meal plans for various facilities. Every meal plan is approved by a dietitian to insure each recipient is receiving the appropriate daily nutrients when consuming their meal. After completing  various meal plans and reviewing  the cost it would take to provide meals for all of the families,The meals are prepared and sent to after school programs, shelters and smaller  food pantries.
. It was a pleasure working with the Greater Cleveland Food Bank.You can also help your local food organization to provide nutritious meals for families in need through out the year. Search your local food bank and give them a call to schedule a time to volunteer! You will be so happy that you did.
If you have any questions about how to sign up for volunteer services in your area or just would like to say hi, please reach out to us by email.