ATH volunteers in league of their own
By Stacie Moody, ATH Community Engagement Coordinator
April is the time of year that we celebrate volunteers–as we applaud those who lend a hand across the nation and in our neighborhood–during National Volunteer Month and particularly during the third week, which is National Volunteer Week.
I have been managing volunteers for nearly a decade, but After the Harvest volunteers are truly in a league of their own.
Volunteering takes a very special type of person, showing compassion for those in need, dedication to improving lives, desire to make change and possessing a selfless attitude.
After the Harvest has these folks in spades (pun intended). Every day I am inspired by the volunteers I work with, because no matter the task, they are ready and more than willing to do whatever it takes to get it done. Whether they have been with the organization since its inception, or they started last summer during a pandemic, their commitment to feeding Kansas City is the same.
Our core volunteer groups, the VEG Squad and Produce Rescue Drivers, understand the importance of getting their hands dirty and sweating in the summer heat. They don’t care if it’s 98 degrees or 30 degrees, they are out in the field when they need to be, harvesting and rescuing fresh produce.
To a lot of these volunteers, it’s more than something to fill up their free time, it’s their calling. And nothing will stand in their way to get the job done, the job of filling hungry bellies with fresh and nutritious fruits and vegetables.
Some of our featured volunteers this month:
