Like a giddy little girl going to the candy store, Ryn’s eyes lit up as she talked about her fiancé and their upcoming wedding day. She remembers their first date. After a six-hour coffee date, she knew he was the one.
“I’m over the moon,” Ryn said. “You know, when you know.”
But on a wedding day when everything is usually focused on the bride and the groom, Ryn didn’t think about herself. She thought about the hungry families in her community. She saw her wedding day as an opportunity to help feed those in need and raise awareness about hunger in Central Texas.
When it came down to registering, Ryn had something else in mind. After discussing her idea with her fiancé, he was just as excited as she was. In lieu of presents they were going to ask for monetary and food donations to benefit the Food Bank.
“We’re older so material things at this point, it wasn’t even a thought,” Ryn said. “It was very organic to want to take an opportunity to share love and a really wonderful opportunity to share awareness.”
On their wedding invitations, they provided a link for their guests to make a donation to their virtual food drive and let them know they would also be collecting food donations at the wedding.
Her guests would also leave with a tote bag with the words “You Know When You Know” on it filled with information about hunger facts in Central Texas and ways they could fight hunger alongside the Food Bank.
Together, Ryn, her husband and guests were able to provide 1,080 meals for struggling families.
Ryn’s desire to help others in need began when she was a child after learning about how Food Banks help people in need.
“At a very young age, at a personal level, it redefined areas in my life and I wanted to give back throughout my life,” she said. “I always knew that when I had a place in my life to give back, [the Food Bank] was the first on my list.”
As she attended events in Austin, Ryn began noticing the Food Bank logo everywhere. After doing some research, she signed up to be a Food Bank Volunteer Ambassador to provide support and raise awareness about fighting hunger during events.
While volunteering at a community event where clients shared their stories about what the Food Bank meant to them, she knew she was at the right place.
“As an ambassador to have that kind of moment with clients is an amazing experience,” she said. “I was just thankful the Food Bank is there to help so many people.”
Ryn now has two years of volunteering service, and after retiring she plans to volunteer even more at the Food Bank and hopes to use her vast work experience as an administrative volunteer to further the Food Bank’s mission.
“I enjoy it. I want to continue forever.”
