This month’s Very Valuable Volunteers joined the Assistance League more than five
years ago and have found a focus in one of our Operation School Bell programs.
Descriptions such as “enthusiastic, energetic, entertaining, amazing and dedicated have
been used to describe them.

This group of talented women have been dedicated to providing the children of our city
with the nutritious food that they need and our volunteers with the quality packing
experience they desire, while being flexible and responsive to numerous changes and
challenges due to Covid. Let me share a few examples:

-Spring 2020, when Food For Kids received notice that schools were abruptly closing
due to Covid, this month’s VVV’s distributed most of the surplus food to our partner
schools and an additional 300 pounds of food was donated to the Hallie Q. Brown
Community Center in St. Paul

-When we lost our bread resource, they quickly and seamlessly found another source.
Not an easy task as it is 145 loaves weekly!!!

-These VVV’s made adjustments several times in the number of food packs due to
school decisions or closures, ramping up and down several times

-They thoughtfully made adjustments to volunteer sign ups to give better access to all
members, since food packs are so popular

Every Thursday morning you will find 8 masked and socially distanced volunteers at the
Hopkins warehouse assembling 205 food packs and 3 drivers delivering those food
packs to hungry students at 4 Minneapolis schools. This fabulous trio of amazing
women, working together and overcoming each challenge, have excelled in their
leadership of the Food For Kids program.

Please join me in congratulating this month’s Very Valuable Volunteers Susie Mayerle,
Judy Speigel and Debbie Eng!!!!