Louise Minor turned to look at her son, trying to recall, “I think the first time you volunteered with me you were 4 or 5 years old. You made birthday cards for Meals on Wheels clients.”
Now, many years later the two look back on that experience as a full circle moment…
Patrick, who is the lead staff for DMARC’s Mobile Food Pantry Program, spends once a week at the downtown DART Central Station alongside his mom. She has been volunteering her time alongside Patrick since 2017 and every day is different. They have seen food pantry guests go through the good and the bad; health scares, birthdays, cross-country moves, births, deaths, and everything in between. But the most meaningful days are when someone shares how much their support has meant to them.
Because of the bus station location, many of the patrons are on their commute, living within walking distance, or are experiencing homelessness. Regardless of their situation, Patrick is thankful that he can show up and make a difference in someone’s life everyday.
“I know that even if I’m exhausted or burnt out I know that everything I did, the effort went towards making someone’s life easier. That’s why I stay and continue to do this type of work.”
Patrick has worked at DMARC for 8 years and has help launch the DMARC-Ket Southside Food Pantry, Mobile food pantry, and delivery service.
“Sometimes we actually see people smiling and even laughing when they leave. That’s when we’ve done our job.
Not only did we provide the food they need, but also we’ve made their day brighter.
-Louise Minor, Mobile Food Pantry Volunteer
