At 81-years of age, Fred Thomas struggles with Parkinson’s disease, but that hasn’t stopped him from coming to the Food Bank every Tuesday morning for more than six years to fulfill his volunteering administrative duties. As he starts his shift, his sense of humor brightens the room.
Following his neurologist’s recommendation to volunteer at the Food Bank to improve his medical condition, one volunteer shift turned to more than 650 hours of service.
His service strikes a chord with his childhood and means more than just getting better. When his father passed away when he was only 2-years old, he was left with his mother and grandmother to raise him. With the help of others, the small family was able to move forward.
“I feel good about [volunteering], because I feel that I should be helping people, because as I was growing up… a lot of people helped us,” Fred said.
His youth in Toledo, Ohio, was marked with school, his mom working, his grandma playing bridge and once in a while taking trips to his uncles’ homes on the weekends. At 18 he got a car, something his family had never had.
The Korean War sent him to Japan where he spent six months on a ship during his time in the Marine Corps. Once he returned from his mission, he attended The University of Toledo. After working 16 years in Ohio as an electrical engineer, Fred made his way to Austin in 1980 to work for Motorola.
Compared to the small family he had growing up, Fred now has five sons, 12 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren he keeps in touch with regularly.
With more time to help his neighbors, his spirit of service continues to shine through his dedication to his community.
“The fact that I’m helping people never really crosses my mind,” he said. “They need the help, so I go.”
Thanks to his years of commitment to fighting hunger, Fred is the Food Bank’s Volunteer of the Quarter. Without his help, we wouldn’t be able to continue to feed families in need. Thank you so much, Fred, for everything that you do! You are amazing!
