The holidays have come and gone, but every season there are opportunities to volunteer at Mid-Ohio Food Collective. And if you’ve ever thought about joining the fight against hunger, this winter is the perfect time to start volunteering at MOFC.
“People sometimes don’t know that MOFC needs volunteers the most in January and February,” said Volunteer Services Manager Jeremy Brauning. “It makes sense because everybody wants to give back during the holidays, and that spirit tends to die down after December. But the need doesn’t end when the holidays do.”
All year round, it takes about 1,000 volunteers each week to feed our hungry neighbors. And while the rush of holiday volunteerism comes to an end, one volunteer—Kathy Powers—knows what it means to answer the call for help.
As a front desk volunteer, Kathy handles phone calls, checks in volunteers, and helps with other administrative tasks at the Mid-Ohio Foodbank. Her role is important in making MOFC a more welcoming place for volunteers, staff, and our community.
Kathy signed up for additional shifts when MOFC needed more help with the front desk last year. She decided to stay with the new schedule, and now she volunteers twice a week. In all, Kathy has spent nearly 400 hours checking in food bank volunteers, greeting guests with a smile, and answering phone calls and questions from customers and community members since she started volunteering at MOFC in 2024.
“I have a big heart for anyone housing or food insecure, so I’ve supported MOFC for years,” said Kathy. “Once I retired and had more time, I decided to start volunteering. And I’ve felt like I’ve belonged here since I walked in.”
Kathy has noticed there are significantly less volunteers to check in since the new year began. Normally, MOFC has 20 to 25 volunteers in a food sorting and packing shift at the food bank. But one day in late January, only 11 people had signed up. Especially now, Kathy makes it a point to recommend MOFC as a good place to volunteer. There’s something for everyone, she said.
“Volunteers like Kathy, who can give a little extra time when we ask for it, make all the difference in feeding our community. Now is one of those times,” said Jeremy. “Grab a group of friends, co-workers, or neighbors and volunteer together at MOFC this month. Your help makes a real impact on the people we serve.”
Visit mofc.org/volunteer to sign up for a shift and help us end hunger.
