VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Gary Barker Shows the Positive Impact of One Volunteer
When Gary Barker, associate professor of theatre in the Department of Fine and Performing Arts at Saint Louis University, moved to St. Louis last summer, one of his goals in moving to a more metropolitan area was to explore greater opportunities for volunteering. "My faith belief system calls me to consider and address the needs of the hungry," says Gary. "My life has been so privileged. I want to expand my world vision to be more concerned about hunger. One of the reasons I decided to accept a teaching position at SLU was because the institution fosters the kind of service mentality that I would like to further in my life." Soon after arriving in St. Louis, Gary did an on-line search for volunteer opportunities with organizations that minister to the hungry, which is how he found the St. Louis Area Foodbank. Gary works in the Repackaging Center on Tuesday afternoons, usually averaging about three days a month because faculty meetings or classes sometimes require him to reschedule. Each time Gary works at the Repackaging Center, he does something different. He has packaged loose pasta, labeled jars of marinated mushrooms, checked expiration dates on health products, and sifted through boxes of mixed items, sorting things into categories. "After each of my volunteer sessions, Brett, the coordinator, gives me a sheet indicating how much food I helped process during that time and how many people that helps feed for a day," says Gary. "I continue to be surprised by how many people are aided by my seemingly short time at the Foodbank. I also have been surprised by how much I enjoy my time at the Foodbank. I really look forward to it. I am in the classroom most of the day. My professional life is artistic and mental, and I have found I really enjoy the physical work involved in volunteering. It’s not difficult, but it does reinforce the idea that my work is making a tangible difference." Gary is a great example of the big difference each Foodbank volunteer can make in just a few hours time. The St. Louis Area Foodbank relies on the generosity of people, like Gary, who are willing to set aside time to help their community. If you or your organization would like to volunteer at the Repackaging Center, please contact Brett Moeller (bmoeller@stlfoodbank.org) at 314.423.6100, ext. 107.