Jean’s Full Story
Jean Lee has a big heart and a generous spirit. That kind spirit led her to Washington, D.C., in 1985 to care for her grandmother. It led her to play the piano for nursing home residents and to sign up for the Race for the Cure. And 17 years ago, it led her to volunteer at Food & Friends.
Over the years, she has worn many hats, but her favorite is working in the kitchen. A self-proclaimed “morning person,” she works the early shift on Mondays from 6 to 8 a.m. “What a great way to start the week,” she says, adding that there’s always a lot to do during those early morning hours, from food prep to packing meals. Jean will be in the kitchen to help us kick off the hectic but always exciting Thanksgiving week, too.
Anyone who has volunteered in the Food & Friends kitchen knows how critical volunteers are to the operation. Each week, they prep, label and pack 11 different meal plans (regular, renal, soft, pureed, no dairy, vegetarian diabetic, heart-healthy, no fish, shelf-stable, and gastrointestinal friendly) – resulting in more than 3,000 nutritional meals delivered every day to people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes and other chronic illnesses.
“Everything is made from scratch,” notes Lee. Since she began at Food & Friends, Lee says there is more variety and also more emphasis on international cuisine – reflecting the changing tastes of clients. It’s important that the food is nutritious and delicious, she says, because “this may be the only nutritional support a client gets.”
“I play such a small part in making this happen,” she adds. “Every volunteer plays a part – from those who work in the kitchen, to the delivery drivers, who may be the only person an isolated client sees in the course of his or her day. We all work together to get the job done.”
“Food & Friends is a great place to volunteer,” adds Lee. “You feel a real sense of accomplishment and know you are truly making a difference. In the words of one chef: ‘Volunteers make Food & Friends happen.’”
You can join us too! Food & Friends has a range of volunteer opportunities to suit every need. Our volunteers help us on the road with delivery, in the kitchen and meal packaging facility, and even in the office with administrative duties.
Want to join our volunteer team? Learn more on our volunteer page or email us for more information!