Kayla, Terri and Brenda met while sorting bulk food items in the Great Plains Food Bank’s regional service center in Bismarck in February 2021. The facility had just opened and as these three women became regulars, a strong friendship was forged.
The women’s hearts for helping others and giving back to their community are what brought them together. In addition to helping others, Kayla, Terri and Brenda each appreciate the physical aspect of volunteering with the Great Plains Food Bank, “it’s good for our health!” said Kayla.
Their shared appreciation of an active lifestyle came up one day while re-packing potatoes. Kayla got Brenda and Terri to start playing pickleball with her when they are not volunteering.
Over the months, the women’s friendship has grown even stronger. Brenda says, “I think Terri and I see each other almost every day!”
The Great Plains Food Bank’s volunteer manager, Mandy Cherney shared that in their two years of service Kayla, Terri and Brenda have collectively given nearly 700 hours of their time. “I don’t know what I’d do without them.” Mandy says, “They always come willing to help and always offer to do more.”
The women have also taken on additional volunteer roles such as packing senior food pack boxes, which are distributed to low-income older adults at risk of chronic hunger. And Brenda and Terri spend several hours each week as volunteer drivers picking up donated food from retail food industry partners across the Bismarck-Mandan community.
For information about volunteer opportunities with the Great Plains Food Bank visit GreatPlainsFoodBank.org.
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Volunteers, Brenda, Terri and Kayla organize and sort food inside the Great Plains Food Bank Bismarck Regional Service Center.
“I really enjoy my new friends at the Great Plains Food Bank.”