Get to Know WoodmenLife’s Partner Organization: Food Bank for the Heartland

At WoodmenLife, community involvement is in our DNA. Our associates enjoy giving back, and WoodmenLife supports their passion by offering paid time off for volunteering. Many choose to use that time to work with one of our eight partner organizations.

Learn more about one of those organizations, Food Bank for the Heartland, as told by WoodmenLife associate Heather Bronson. She leads the WoodmenLife volunteer efforts at the Food Bank along with Wendy Wells and Nic Olari.

Tell us a little about Food Bank for the Heartland.

Food Bank for the Heartland has been connecting our communities with food, resources and hope since 1981. It’s a nonprofit organization focused on providing food to children, families, seniors, and Veterans facing hunger in 93 counties (77 in Nebraska and 16 in western Iowa). The organization ultimately seeks to eliminate hunger in these communities and serve with respect, integrity and urgency.

The Food Bank works with individuals, organizations, food manufacturers and distributors, grocery stores, the USDA, and Feeding America to procure food and to purchase food to supplement donations.

How does Food Bank for the Heartland align with WoodmenLife and our values?

This aligns with our National Community Focus of fighting hunger, along with our commitment to volunteerism and giving back to our communities. Partnering to help reduce food insecurity within our communities makes a difference for everyone.

Why is Food Bank for the Heartland important to you personally?

I believe that nobody should have to worry about going hungry. Imagine the difference it can make for someone when they have a full stomach. When I think about young children who can’t concentrate in school because they’re hungry or a Veteran who served our country but now doesn’t have a meal — it makes me appreciate what I have and is a reminder that I can do better. I can be part of making a difference so that hunger is not the primary problem for any member of our community.

What inspired you to start volunteering in your community?

I was raised with the belief that you always share and give back when you’re able to do so. I’m thankful every day, and I feel it’s my responsibility to give back. I also know it feels great to give back and make a positive difference.

What kind of work do WoodmenLife volunteers do for Food Bank for the Heartland?

Depending on the size of group, there are several things WoodmenLife associates might do while volunteering at the Food Bank. Among the duties associates are tasked with are redistributing bulk items into smaller packages, packing backpacks, sorting goods, or labeling items.

Tell us a little about how you feel after completing a volunteer shift.

I always walk away feeling grateful for what I have available to me and knowing that we’ve helped make a difference in our community. When you’re packing 300-plus 1-pound bags of rice, pasta, beans, etc., and you think about that being distributed to families, it’s eye-opening how many lives you’re impacting. Every one of those 1-pound bags will go to a family, and that’s part of their lunch or dinner. Knowing that it’s one fewer item they need to worry about — that’s a very positive feeling!

Can you talk a little about the camaraderie among WoodmenLife associates as they volunteer together?

You’re almost always working in a group, so there’s collaboration and team building. If you’re working in the bulk packing area, you’re often working in an assembly line — you’re dependent on one another to achieve the goal. This is similar to how we all must work together during our day-to-day jobs here at WoodmenLife to achieve our goals. If associates are not volunteering with their normal team, then they get the opportunity to meet and partner with other members of WoodmenLife. There’s always music playing in the background, you can chat and learn about one another, all while making a positive difference.

Are there any particularly memorable moments from your time working with Food Bank for the Heartland?

My most memorable recent group was one of the Business Technology (BT) teams and several leaders from BT and Strategic Initiatives. We could apply almost every principle from our daily jobs to what was happening while we filled bags of pasta. From shifting work across tables to optimize on flow, to fast feedback for those trying to measure out 1 pound on the first try (that may have turned into a bit of a competition), to determining who would be the best in each of the assembly line positions. I had the opportunity to learn more about each of my team members, and at the same time we packaged 2,170 pounds of food in 2.5 hours. There were people partnering that don’t get the opportunity to work together on a daily basis, which was great!

Read More

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Get to Know WoodmenLife’s Partner Organization: Meals on Wheels

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The Power of Giving Back — Why I Volunteer

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