Like many volunteers, Doug Herrick started volunteering at the Newton Food Pantry in retirement. In 2018, he was part of the Monday morning shift crew, helping to receive and put away shipments that came to our pantry from Newton Food Pantry partners, including the Greater Boston Food Bank. When COVID hit, the majority of the existing Monday crew was furloughed, so the Monday crew became a revolving roster of volunteers, with lots of turnover. There was a lot of enthusiasm for volunteering but not much in the way of organization. In the Summer of 2020, Doug was asked to be the lead coordinator of the Monday delivery.
“Going hungry is such a terrible thing, especially in a place like Newton,” says Doug, a 30-year resident of the city, “There’s no doubt that there’s plenty of food available, the problem is getting it to people.” This is where Doug’s organizational skills come in. Doug’s role involves receiving massive deliveries that arrive at the Newton Food Pantry from around greater Boston, and ensuring that whatever stock comes in is stored where the other volunteer crews can find it when needed, so that distribution on Wednesdays runs smoothly. “The pantry is very busy on Wednesdays, so I want our crew to do whatever we can to help the Wednesday clients and the volunteers who assist them,” says Doug. “Some items need to be refrigerated and some don’t. We have to decide where things will go. We can’t put everything that needs to be refrigerated in the outdoor refrigerated pod — it won’t all fit, and we can’t put it in the basement unrefrigerated. We also have to make sure there’s room for food that comes in on Tuesday and Wednesday, and, in addition to perishable items, we have to prepare and stock a large variety of dry goods.”
“Doug’s organizational talents and his deep understanding of the many complicated parts involved in running our pantry, allow us to serve over 200 clients every Wednesday with ease and to offer them a robust inventory of food and personal care supplies.”
Sindy Wayne, Newton Food Pantry Vice President
Sometimes an agency or business will call unexpectedly with food to donate, and Doug helps manage the delivery, no matter how large or small. “Recently HP Hood let us know they had cottage cheese to donate, but they didn’t tell us how much,” recounts Doug, “It turned out to be hundreds of containers. Because of expiration dates, there was no way we could use it all. We distributed half of the shipment at the pantry, while the other half went to the freedge.” Because the freedge has been operational for nearly a year, we know how quickly food is used, and were able to distribute all of this amazing contribution to people who needed it.”
Doug’s generosity doesn’t stop with his Monday shift. He assists in the intake of food from other area partners during the remainder of the week, takes shifts at the freedge and with others attends to a variety of miscellaneous tasks. Lastly, an avid cyclist, Doug has ridden in the Ride for Food for the past four years, where a percentage of the funds raised helps support the Newton Food Pantry.