September Volunteers of the Month: A Family that Serves Together

By: Tommy Rivers, Program Support Specialist

The busy summer season brings its very own set of challenges, but also provides us with more frequent volunteer visits from one of our favorite volunteer families. Anthony, a High Schoolmath teacher, and the twins are out of school for a bit and Norphesia works nights at a bank, managing a large professional group. The timing is perfect; MAC is sometimes low on summertime volunteers just when they are most available to pitch-in, performing an array of tasks.

The twins: Bailey, female and Bryce, male are ten years old but seem, somehow, older. I thought they were middle schoolers. They always arrive at MAC full of enthusiasm. Their cheerful vibe fills the room and raises our spirits. Inquisitive and curious they quickly get involved. “How can I help today?” or “May I work in the Food Pantry?” are the kinds of questions they ask.

One afternoon after assistance, I was headed to the pantry. I stopped, noticing a stack of freshly made and bagged peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  A note, placed conspicuously next to them read, “Dear MAC, Here are twenty sandwiches for the homeless. Make sure they get them. Love Bryce and Bailey.”

This family delights us with pleasant surprises. Another day, Anthony arrived with a box of MAC business cards. The cards spelled out assistance days and hours along with our phone, fax and email. It looked like the printer had used first rate card stock. Before, we used one by two inch cut-out paper slivers with our information copied onto them. Unbeknownst to us at the time, Anthony noticed the problem and then decided to fix it. He commissioned and purchased the cards on his own. It was really cool – the as matter of fact way he came in that day and set the box of cards on a common work table in plain sight; as if to say, no big deal; they could have been here all along. But they weren’t, not until Anthony’s thoughtful gesture. The more durable professional cards have clearly tapped down client misunderstandings regarding appointment policy.  Keeping up with them is much easier. Our clients are happier and so are we. Thanks again, Anthony.

Sometimes the family works as a group, stocking and arranging items in the Food Pantry. Late one day I headed into the pantry for a quick look, when I realized all four of them were finishing their work. I stood still for a moment, taking in a job really well done and then asked something like, “Are all of you perfectionists?” Without hesitation, Anthony waived in Norphesia’s direction and said, “I’m the one with OCD and Norphesia is the supervisor.”  I’m guessing some of the skills Norphesia uses at the bank spill over, thankfully, to her volunteer work at MAC and the church. Not too surprising, I ran into her today in the halls at MAC and it looked like she was delivering a food donation.