After 36 years working as a counselor at a community college, Peter retired to Vermont and started volunteering at the Foodbank. A couple of shifts per month turned into one, two, then three days a week. More than nine years and 1,000 shifts later, Peter shares why he keeps showing up.
“Years ago, I ran into a quote by President Teddy Roosevelt… He said the greatest prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing. And every time I come in here, I say to myself, This is absolutely work worth doing. I go home at the end of the day, and I’m dead-as-a-dog tired, and I gotta drive home, but I say to myself, What a great day, I’m glad I came… So that’s how 1,000 shifts goes by, I guess.”
Peter enjoys putting together food boxes for older adults at the Foodbank’s Barre warehouse. “Someday, many, many years from now, I’m going to be a senior citizen,” he chuckles, then grows serious. “And I hope somebody puts one of these boxes together for me.”
“I used to go out and meet the trucks that would deliver the boxes… The truck would pull in and there’d be 30 or 40 cars waiting there in line. You’d put the box in somebody’s backseat, and they would just have this look of relief on their face.”
“I tell the other volunteers that, and I say, ‘These boxes, it’s not just a box of cans. This is really important stuff, for whoever’s getting that box.’”
Once a week, on his way home, Peter delivers a carload of fresh produce from the Foodbank to the food shelf in his town.
“I think sometimes folks feel like there’s so many issues, there’s so many problems in the world that need solving, and everything’s complicated. But bringing a load of vegetables is not complicated. Bringing a [food box] to the trunk of somebody’s car, it’s not complicated.”
“As an organization, I think the Foodbank is obviously having a tremendous impact on a lot of peoples’ lives…Where would Vermont be if this organization wasn’t here? How different would so many people’s lives be? So, it’s good to be a part of it… This is clearly work worth doing.”
Keeping Vermont nourished is a big job that wouldn’t be possible without dedicated community members like you and Peter. Thanks for continuing to show up.
Learn more about volunteer opportunities at Vermont Foodbank.
Having been on the receiving end of help himself over the years, Michael, the cook at Mustard Seed in St. Johnsbury is giving back by making sure his neighbors have a nourishing meal and a warm place to chat.
Bob and Barb are Vermont farmers with a passion for growing and sharing one staple, nutrient-dense crop with their community: potatoes. They also partner with Vermont Foodbank to make sure their local potatoes are available to neighbors experiencing hunger.
Glenn is one of Vermont Foodbank’s all-star drivers, and for him, work is personal. Having faced hard times himself, Glenn brings empathy and care that resonate with every neighbor he meets. Watching him work, it’s clear—he doesn’t just deliver food. He delivers connection and hope, with a side of humor that lightens the mood and makes every interaction genuine.
