Improving Health. Delivering Nourishment.

Photo courtesy of MANNA

Our Communications group got the chance to volunteer at MANNA, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing meals for the chronically ill. Our effort came under the umbrella of "Orange Day," a new initiative created by our CEO Andrew Witty, which encourages every employee to take one day to volunteer in their community. MANNA, initially created by a local church to meet the needs of the HIV community in the early 90s, has grown into a self supporting non-profit organization serving a range of the sick and homebound in the Philadelphia area.

In previous years, some members of our group and I, had volunteered at MANNA and for a moment I was tempted to think, "Been there done that... Is it possible to get something new out of it today?" Before leaving home, I allowed myself to get derailed by an incoming phone call from a long-distance friend, so I skipped breakfast to make up the time, arriving at the office just in time to head out to MANNA with my colleagues. For starters, it was an interesting experience handling food all morning while starving! It gave me a different perspective on being hungry - allowing me to imagine being at the mercy of others to meet my basic food needs. I felt compelled to work harder and faster, in my own small way doing my part to make sure these people already fighting grave illnesses, do not have to go without food. Our fellow workers were delightful and diverse, from high school kids who were commanded to be there by parents or assigned to community service, to MANNA employees, to eager daily volunteers with a passion for MANNA's cause.

Our group of nine managed to pack and freeze 721 meals in about three hours and what fun it was! It was great seeing everyone in a different setting, in aprons, gloves and hairnets - having a chance at teamwork in a completely different way than we're used to. One of them, said to me at the end of the day "Assembly line work, is good for the soul." While I'm not entirely sure about that (sorry, Jeff), I do know that helping others and remembering how much I have but take for granted everyday, was very good for my soul. I also learned I look quite cute in a hairnet!