The Oak Hill Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) missionaries never shy away from helping the Food Bank achieve its mission of feeding families in need.
The faith-based volunteer group began looking online for volunteer opportunities in South Austin when they came across the Food Bank.
A few missionaries decided to give the Food Bank a try, and over time they became regulars.
“One of the keys to our faith is that there’s no poor among us. And this, I think really does that,” Michael Johnson, director of public affairs for the Oak Hill Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said.
Now, twice a week, a group of about 10 LDS volunteers arrive at the Food Bank ready to work. The group has volunteered about 1,680 hours since August of 2015. They divide their time between helping Chef Kim prepare hot meals in the kitchen and helping inspect food in product recovery.
“All of it’s been really enjoyable. We love the opportunity we have to just come and volunteer. We like seeing the ways we can help feed people,” Elder Richard West said. “We’re sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, but we want to help people in all the ways we can. So we love helping feed people here at the Food Bank. It’s very rewarding.”
Richard has been volunteering since December of 2015. Though he’s no stranger to the Food Bank’s product recovery process, there’s one particular volunteer shift he will never forget.
He and his volunteer partner had to inspect a pallet of strawberry Sierra Mist. Despite a terrible odor and the oozing sticky syrup on the pallet, it was fun, he said, especially because Samaje Perine, the Oklahoma Sooners running back, was along his side to help him.
Whether LDS volunteers are inspecting sticky food items or not, their enthusiasm and service is contagious. For all their hard work and passion to help others, we would like to award the Oak Hill Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the Volunteer Group of the Quarter!
Thank you for everything you do to help your neighbors in need! Y’all are amazing!
