Celebrating the Deitrich Family for Volunteers of the Quarter

Apr07

Instead of sitting around their house on a Saturday, the Deitrich family drives down to the Food Bank for their three-hour shift in the product recovery warehouse ready to sort any type of food donations needed to be processed for the Food Bank’s clients.

For almost two years, Babita, Tom and their son Stefan volunteer as a family two to three times a month on Saturdays. After sorting cans, frozen meats, recycling banana boxes and everything in between, the family knows the drill. Wear closed-toe shoes, arrive on time, sort food items and expect the Food Bank staff’s jokes and announcements at specified times.

As Babita searched for volunteer opportunities for her son, the organization that caught Stefan’s attention was the Capital Area Food Bank, especially being able to see the background operation of how the food gets processed.

“It stood out to me against all the other opportunities that she was describing,” Stefan said. “It just seemed like it would be the most interesting where I could help make an impact.”

Soon after, Babita and her son Stefan began volunteering at the Food Bank. After hearing their stories of cleaning and sorting sticky beverages, Tom wasn’t sure if his family would return. To his surprise, they did and shortly after, he joined them.

“We like to spend time together and build more bonds between us rather than just doing things at our house or other family activities,” Babita said.

The experience, especially with the staff, keeps the family coming back. As the volunteer orientation begins, the staff gives a brief introduction and leads the volunteers to the product recovery warehouse. Inside, volunteers are given assignments and food safety training. Once the music begins, the action starts. Food items get inspected, cleaned, and placed in boxes. With one box on top of another, the volunteers start filling pallets ready to be distributed out to the community. And all through the process, laughter is heard from beginning to end as the staff cracks jokes during the shift.

“The full time staff is really amazing, they do a wonderful job and not only from a logistical and processing point of view, but by making it interesting, making it fun and getting everyone involved,” Tom said.

With only five product recovery staff members, the Food Bank relies on volunteers of all ages to help sort thousands of pounds of food items. Even a small volunteer group can make a large impact. One Saturday, Babita and Stefan were processing food and were surprised to learn that they had helped sort 8,000 pounds of food, something that they hadn’t gotten close to before.

“It’s quite a feat to be able to process that much food, not knowing who you’re going to have to work with that day,” Babita said.

Thanks to volunteers like the Deitrich family, last year the Food Bank distributed nearly 34 million pounds of food to families in need.

For their commitment to fighting hunger, today we celebrate the Deitrich family as our Volunteers of Quarter. Thank you for your dedication as a family to helping your community!