Thursday, January 26, 2006

SHARE Prestaging Continued

I found out today that I got one thing wrong yesterday. I found out they also pre-stage the frozen items and that they sometimes have more than just 2 or 3. Today, they had five frozen items. I can also vouch that the pre-staging process does save valuable time later. It took four of us over 2 hours to finish all the pre-staging for the frozen food. After we finished getting all the frozen food pre-staged, it had to be put back in the large walk-in freezer SHARE has. That took another 30 minutes at least. By the time, we had put all the frozen stuff back in the freezer, it was packed. Sam told me that the freezer was even more packed during November and December. During those times, SHARE received an additional 7,000 plus orders per month. The mind truly boggles just how much food SHARE handles in just one month.

Another neat thing I got to do today was meet another one of the awesome volunteers that help out at SHARE. Sam introduced me to Philip who has been helping at SHARE in the D.C. area since it first started (over 15 years now!). He is a man that does what ever needs to be done. So great was his help at SHARE that last year the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington bestowed upong him their highest honor - the Caritas Award. Sadly, last year, Philip also had heart problems and underwent bypass surgery. Initially after his surgery, he couldn't help out at SHARE at all and he was greatly missed. Philip was determined that the important work he had done at SHARE would continue to get done. He actually went out and found a replacement volunteer who continues to help out to this day at SHARE. As soon as Philip recovered enough to where he could start helping out himself, he was right back at SHARE. Today for instance, he helped guide us less experienced volunteers in the pre-staging process. Thanks to his and Chris's expert guidance, the process went smoothly. The result of his help will be pleased customers and ultimately people getting the food they need while making their precious dollars go further. Many kudos to Philip for his many years of selfless service to the SHARE program and to those less fortunate.

DISCLAIMER: All opinions expressed on this blog are my own and in no way represent any other person or organization. In regards to the blog entries concerning SHARE, my blog entries express my own observations and opinions of the Washington D.C. SHARE. They don't in any way represent the official position of the Washington D.C. SHARE or Catholic Social Services of Washington D.C.

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