Onward | When Filling a Need Goes Both Ways - What's What New Port Richey

Volunteers hands putting grocery products, foodstuff to food donations box

By Michele Miller
What’s What New Port Richey

The look of relief on her face when she pulled open the door hit hard. Enough to leave an imprint that resonates in a way that had me counting my blessings and feeling shame all at once because the fact that there are so many out there worse off isn’t anything to be grateful for.

The cupboard was pretty near bare, she told us as we unloaded the pull cart filled with groceries that had been provided by The Volunteer Way Brownbag for Seniors Program. Canned goods, frozen pork and blueberries, cereal, bread and pastries, apple juice, a bag of nectarines and some bottled water – all donated with much being provided by Feeding Tampa Bay with the intent to help sustain her and the other clients along the old man’s route through the following month.

In my former life as a reporter, I wrote about the Volunteer Way in 2017 and found it to be an essential and worthy organization. (www.tampabay.com/features/humaninterest/The-Volunteer-Way-strives-to-fight-hunger-in-Pasco.)

These days I’m a meer tag-a-long and a second pair of hands on what is my husband’s monthly delivery gig for the Volunteer Way, one of three local non-profits he gives his time to these days. It’s pretty simple and not all that time-consuming. He calls each client a couple of days beforehand to let them know when we’ll be by. They are always happy to hear from him and thankful as all get out, even though he’s just the messenger/deliverer so to speak.

As a couple making our way through our retirement years, these volunteer stints have become a necessity – an essential part of the “Golden Years” routine in more ways than one.

We can see for ourselves how the brown bag program helps feed senior and disabled shut-ins who are in need – some desperately – while connecting them to others in the community who stop by once a month to drop off food and exchange brief pleasantries. A human touch.

To our benefit, volunteering for the program helps give the old man a better sense of purpose. It connects him to others in our community and gets him out of the house where he’s less inclined to rearrange things such as the kitchen cabinets while he’s bored and I’m busy tending to this website – something that allots me my own sense of purpose these days.

There’s a reason I keep the oft-used Italian Seasons and Herbs de Provence handy in the upper cupboard by the stove and not in the designated spice rack that takes some rifling through to find what you need.

But I digress.

According to the latest statistics in the Volunteer Way monthly newsletter in July there were 102 seniors enrolled in the Brown Bag Program.

In today’s economic climate, that’s not a lot.

Jeannine Xanthopoulos, who recently returned to the Volunteer Way to manage the program, said she has seen a downturn in clients since she’s been back in the warehouse. While that might seem good, she worries that there are more eligible seniors in need who don’t know about the program and could benefit. Clients who might not get the much-needed relief of monthly delivery of sustenance that they are welcome to.

So here’s where we get the word out.

If you are a senior in need or know of any seniors who are homebound or disabled and could use some help, or if you are interested in volunteering, please reach out to Jeannine at The Volunteer Way at (727) 815-0433 ext. 104.

She’s ready to take your call.

And do pass it on.

Now Onward.

Peace. M.

Reach out to Michele Miller – mmiller@whatswhatnewportrichey.com

Volunteer Way Services

Food Pantry, 8061 Congress Street, Port Richey, 8:30 am -12 noon Monday – Friday.
Moon Lake Mission Soup Kitchen, Mon-Sat 10 am-12 noon. Monday – Saturday. Clothing closet and showers 9 – 11 am