Service: Time and Food Never Wasted

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of our volunteers who helped us serve over 4,000 pounds of food to our neighbors Tuesday!

It was hard to tell who was getting the most benefit from our service project with We Don’t Waste yesterday – the recipients of the much needed, fresh and healthy food, or the Stigma volunteers.

That’s the beauty about being part of the solution. It is so invigorating! It breathes life into our purpose in ways that sitting in a cubicle or behind a computer screen never can.

It is all about connection. As a recovering alcoholic, I have learned the power of hearing and telling stories that resonate, and the healing that can be found in a common goal with shared success. That’s exactly what it feels like to be a Stigma volunteer and bring the resources of our community together.

Tuesday, we were the hands, feet and smiling faces of We Don’t Waste and their mission to get Denver’s excess food in the mouths of our neighbors who need it most. Have you ever heard of a food desert? That’s the term used to describe an area with lots of residents, and only gas stations and convenience stores as food providers. In the Swansea neighborhood, we brought the food to the food desert. And we were received with a lot of smiling faces.

This was a great opportunity for us to share a meaningful experience with some of the people we loved to serve back in the bakery days, but there is a lot more to do. If you weren’t able to join us Tuesday, we’d like to work with you next. We miss you!

Here are some ideas: How about we get together for a shift at the Denver Rescue Mission? What about serving PB&J sandwiches to the homeless in civic center park? Maybe there is a mission that is important to you. What suggestions do you have?

Writing a check is important, but it doesn’t feed the soul. There is nothing quite like the feeling of knowing your actions are saving lives and bringing people together. Won’t you join us?

Published by Matt Salis

Matt Salis is a high-functioning alcoholic in recovery who is working to end the stigma associated with addiction and related conditions such as homelessness and mental illness.