The 3M Film and Materials Resource Division has been volunteering in small groups at Neighbors on a monthly basis since July 2017. This is what they had to say about their experience:

Describe your involvement with Neighbors:

We usually work in the Food Shelf. Some of us have been volunteering at Neighbors over eight years. We like that Neighbors is efficient, organized, clean, welcoming and friendly, and does a great job servicing the community. We are so impressed with the efficiency and organization of the food shelf!! There’s a very diverse array of donations arranged so that they are logically and easily accessed! At the end of the day, we fulfill a personal desire to help someone in a specific way. We are fortunate that our employer, 3M Company, provides a volunteer match, encourages us to volunteer, and provides an easy way for us to donate funds while also matching those funds.

What do you enjoy most about volunteering?

  • We most enjoy the other volunteers—they are all really excellent people and create a fun atmosphere!
  • We like the variety of tasks.
  • We know what we are doing is ultimately helping others.
  • We like dating and sorting non-perishables. We also like special projects that you hold for our group so that we can help you clear out the non-standard projects.

    

Why do you volunteer at Neighbors / in general?

We appreciate the fact that we are helping nourish people; and food is something that we all need every day. We enjoy helping others while supporting our local community. We realize we’re very fortunate to have good jobs and a home, and that not everyone shares those circumstances. We enjoy Neighbors because it appeals to many of our own values. At 3M Company, we also host volunteer activities on site for those employees that are unable to leave the site for longer periods of time. Examples include: stuffing personal hygiene bags, providing backpacks of school supplies, making sandwiches for the homeless, etc.

What’s your favorite memory about Neighbors?

We have several favorite memories. We enjoy the sense of accomplishment we get when we finish a task; whether that means sorting a pallet of food or helping with a special project like placing recipe cards with ingredients. It’s always special to see the results of the Holiday Gift Program. We look forward to break time to have a snack with and interact with the other volunteers. We occasionally interact with the clients who are receiving the services, and those are the experiences that we enjoy the most.

What advice would you give someone who is thinking about volunteering?

When in doubt give volunteering a try.  Follow your heart and volunteer where you feel there’s a need or a void that you are filling! That can mean different things to different people. Some categories include food security, homelessness, or helping different groups of people in need. Volunteer where you feel fulfilled.