Food Pantry Co-op teaches the importance of Volunteering

 

[December 21, 2019] 

Did you know that volunteering has positive impact on the community and persons of all ages? Local Non-profit Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois (CAPCIL) has encouraged volunteerism from its inception however, in recent years has become a focal point. CAPCIL volunteers can assist in several agency programs ranging from administration, Head Start classrooms, thrift store, delivering meals, stocking the food pantry to even driving customers to medical appointments. Agency Volunteers consist of business representatives, church members, government officials, students and community service participants. Studies show that volunteering gives opportunities for people to learn new skills, interact in different environments and expand their network. Giving back is also beneficial to a person’s mental and physical health by keeping them active and developing a more positive outlook on life.

With the introduction of CAPCIL’s Dignity Aisle Food Pantry Co-op in September of 2017, customers received a shopping pass to the co-op each week for volunteering. The agency prioritizes the prevention of poverty and works to fight the causes of the poverty cycle. The Co-op allows the agency to help the customer in more than one way. By encouraging customers to volunteer, they learn about integrity of work, importance of skill development, and able to interact with a new sphere of influence.

At the conclusion of their hours, volunteers can use their earned shopping pass to provide food for their household. This structure cuts down on waste as customers can make their own selections, teaches them budgeting skills with an inventory point system and supplements their weekly income.

In 2018, volunteers donated over 66,000 hours to CAPCIL making a $247,851 financial impact. Thus far, 2019 has been just as successful. Regardless of whether the volunteers have been court ordered community service or business professionals, each contribution of time has been valued and appreciated. If you are interested in volunteering or more information about CAPCIL’s programming visit their website at www.capcil.info  or by calling the Corporate Office at 217-732-2159.

[Breann Titus
Director of Agency Development
Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois]