Last week the non-profit organization Feeding South Florida received a memorable delivery from FHE Health’s staff and alumni: 681 pounds of food—the equivalent of 567 meals—which will help local families in need this Thanksgiving.
This recent collection and donation of food weren’t the first time that FHE Health alumni had volunteered with Feeding South Florida. The organization, which partners with more than 300 non-profit groups in South Florida to feed individuals and families affected by hunger, states on its website that “for every $1 donated, we can provide 9 meals.”
In previous years, FHE alumni have volunteered several times at Feeding South Florida’s warehouse in Pembroke Pines, where they have helped with inspecting, sorting, and packaging food. (In addition to accepting food donations, the organization is big on “rescuing” perfectly good food in damaged packaging from grocery stores. From there, the food needs further inspecting and sorting, before being distributed to local food pantries.
How Service to Others Is Critical to Recovery
Molly Mammen is FHE Director of Alumni Services and Resources and helped organize this latest initiative by alumni and staff. When asked about it, she explained why service is such a vital component of successful recovery and therefore a core feature of FHE’s Alumni Program: “We encourage our alumni to be of service to others and we schedule various volunteer opportunities throughout the year. A huge component of recovery is the notion of learning to be less selfish and give back our time to others.”
Mammen added that “doing esteemable acts such as volunteering helps to cultivate a person’s self-esteem.”
In addition to that self-esteem lift, there’s also a feel-good component to giving that studies have confirmed is real.
“Ask any alumni who have participated in our volunteer events, and they will always tell you that after a few hours of helping others, they leave feeling great!,” Mammen said.
She was quick to point out that the generosity of FHE staff is what helped make this particular drive so successful.
