Thirty Year Thursday: Natalie Boyce

To celebrate our thirtieth year anniversary, we’re interviewing a friend of MAC each Thursday as part of a series call “Thirty Year Thursday.” This week, we interviewed Natalie Boyce, rising sophomore at Notre Dame and Atlanta Community Food Bank summer intern.

How did you first find out about MAC?

Through my internship this summer with the Atlanta Community Food Bank. MAC is one of my partner agency placements.

How did you decide to apply for the internship at the Food Bank?

I found out about it through the Summer Service Learning Program at Notre Dame. Like everyone, I want to make a positive change, but you can’t do that if you don’t know what needs to be done. I was aware that there were a lot of things I didn’t know, and I knew that this program would give me the chance to interact with people. If you pay attention to people’s experiences, you can discover what they need and learn to make a positive difference.

What was your initial impression of MAC?

I was impressed by how good everyone was at their job here—both the staff and volunteers—and by the dedication of the volunteers. A lot of organizations have problems with volunteer commitment, so it is amazing that volunteers return to MAC once a week.

Everyone at MAC is also in tune to what the people they serve need and want. Coming from a big picture organization like the Food Bank, which is very general because it has to be, it is a different experience to be in a “frontlines” organization like MAC. MAC knows what people need and provides as much as possible in a way that keeps things honest and accountable.

Is there anything you have learned in your few weeks at MAC?

I have learned the most from the clients who come in and from their stories. I have re-learned how people are a lot more similar than they are different and more relatable than you think. Coming from a completely different region of the country, I can still relate to these people. I love learning about our differences too. Today one client was telling me about okra in a can.

Do you have a favorite story from your time at MAC?

I was working at an organization two weeks ago, and one client asked to be a part of the co-op, but it didn’t work out because he hadn’t filled out an application and it was the wrong time frame for him to apply. He told us that he was hungry and really needed food, but we had to say no. I didn’t know it, but he wound up scheduling an appointment at MAC and I saw him when he came in for food and helped him with some groceries. It was really awesome that MAC could fill that need.