Interfaith Social Services to host volunteer drop-in days

Increase in food pantry clients brings need for more volunteers

Interfaith Social Services in Quincy, which houses one of Greater Boston’s largest food pantries, is hosting a week of Volunteer Drop-In Days, January 28th – February 1st.

For those looking to lend a hand in their community, now has never been a better time. Interfaith has seen a dramatic increase in the number of individuals served in their food pantry. More than 800 individuals have received food from Interfaith’s pantry in the first two weeks of 2019, compared with 510 during the same time period last year.

“We’ve seen quite an increase this month in the number of clients requesting food from our pantry,” said Interfaith’s Executive Director Rick Doane. “Clients are anxious about the government shutdown and how it may affect their benefits. They are worried about how to feed their families. Our pantry waiting room has been full every day this month.”

Interfaith’s pantry is able to serve clients through a volunteer force of more than 100 individuals, and is seeking additional help as need in the community increases. During the Volunteer Drop-In Days, members of the community are invited to try out a volunteer shift in the food pantry.

Those interested in volunteering should arrive at Interfaith, 105 Adams St., Quincy, at either 9:30am or noon for a three-hour volunteer shift any day, Monday, January 28th – Friday, February 1st.

Volunteers are required to fill out a CORI background check and registration form. They should be able to be on their feet for the duration of the shift and lift up to 50 pounds. Excellent customer service and communication skills are required. Volunteers must be 16 years of age or older.

“We anticipate that over the next six weeks we will continue to help even more families and we need everyone’s help in the community to prepare for the increased need,” Doane said.

In addition to the food pantry, Interfaith operates the New Directions Counseling Center, which provides mental health counseling and addiction recovery treatment to hundreds of local individuals and families, as well as HomeSafe, a budget counseling and homelessness prevention program. Interfaith also houses the volunteer-run Bureau Drawer Thrift Shop, a boutique-style shop whose proceeds support the organization.

The week-long Drop-In Days event will allow volunteers to get a feel for what it is like serving local residents in need by filling grocery orders for clients and restocking the food pantry shelves. Interfaith hopes that many of the volunteers who drop in will be interested in committing to an ongoing three-hour volunteer shift per week.

If you are interested in volunteering:

Those interested in volunteering at Interfaith Social Services are encouraged to contact volunteer coordinator Paula Daniels at 617-773-6203 ext. 28 or [email protected]. Or stop by the Volunteers Drop-In Days event at 9:30 a.m. or 12:00 p.m. between Monday, January 28th and Friday, February 1st.