Aubrey Morrison

I worked the morning shift sorting and bagging potatoes for the following day. After I finished with the potatoes, I restocked a few shelves of Plantains and Onions. I ended my shift working at the front of the store with canned goods and interacting directly with customers. I learned a lot about the organization, what kind services they offer, what events they hold, and how they operate. It was kind of cool to move around through the store a do a few different jobs. I went from working behind the scenes to being face to face working with people to try and fulfill their wants/needs. With that I learned how the store's point system operates and how to apply it. Using their points and doing the best to give them everything they want but within the limit. It nice to be able to help them, even in that small way. Everyone was very grateful in the moment, so that added to it.

Women's Care Kit Packaging.
At the volunteer event hosted by Tau Beta Sigma the goal was to create care packages to be donated to a Women's shelter. We wrote over a hundred small, thoughtful and inspirational notes to include in each bag and care package. The room was sorted into piles of different necessities like toothpaste, socks, wash cloths, blankets, soap, lotion, and more, making sure to create packages that had at least one item from each category. In the end, we created over 120+ care packages to donate towards the Women's Shelter. It honestly felt really enriching to write personalized notes to give back to the community. It was also a good opportunity to laugh, bond, and build connections with the other volunteers.

Today, I helped to sort and package food for the Hunger Hotline. There was an assortment of donations ranging from baby products to canned goods and other non-perishable items. We sorted a large bin of items into 10-13 categories of food: Canned greens, canned meat, canned meals, pasta & rice, peanut butter, jelly, drinks, canned tomatoes, canned corns, seasonal options, canned fruits, salmon & tuna, baked goods, and more. We did our best to place at least one item from each category into a Hunger Hotline Package. In the end we prepared 50+ boxes to give away. It was a good experience, and I can't wait to volunteer again.

It was a good presentation. It was understandable, clear, concise, and also offered us the information presented so we could view it at any time, which makes going through the process of becoming a volunteer a lot less intimidating. Overall, a really great training session. Can't wait to volunteer officially.

Volunteering with FreshFarm today gave me a deeper appreciation for the intersection between community health, sustainability, and biology. Today we counted visitors, offered warm apple cider samples, and learned about their SNAP and EBT systems. I saw firsthand how access to nutritious food plays a major role in maintaining healthy biological systems. The apple cider I handed out is rich in carbohydrates — one of the four essential macromolecules that provide our bodies with energy for cellular processes. It reminded me how the availability of these macromolecules directly impacts our health and well-being. FreshFarm’s effort to make local produce accessible to everyone through their coupon program ensures that all members of the community have the opportunity to obtain these essential nutrients. Helping to set up and break down tables also showed me how much teamwork and organization go into supporting that system.

My volunteer experience today was quite nice, the store in which we were helping to restock was structured and organized with all around good vibes. We learned a lot about their purpose, process, and reasoning behind why they operate the way they do. They were various categories ranging from snacks and starches to nonperishables. Overall, being there did affirm my previous knowledge on macromolecules. In the store they limit the amount of each color that a person can take, not only to prevent taking advantage of the foodbank system but for rationing purposes as it's the best way to assure that anyone who wants one can get one. Especially with the 4 main macromolecules, it's important that everyone is able to get their fill of starches, proteins, and more. I personally had a great experience helping out. The vibes were amazing and our supervisor, Grace, was very helpful and welcoming throughout the entire shift.

P.S. I forgot to take a picture of my items once I finished color coding them and placing them onto the shelf. But I was in charge of the strawberry fruit spread and pancakes which were both labeled with yellow. The photo above is of the exact brand we unpacked with a yellow sticker that I digitally added in representation of my role from today. The other photo is of the coconut milk that was also delivered.

I truly learned a lot from this experience, and would, without a doubt, return to help out gain at the next chance. I always knew farming was hard work, but being there today showed me that there's far more to it than I thought. There's a lot of thought and consideration placed into everything. From where to put the plants/crops, which seasons will they best thrive in, which plants will bring the pollinators, what methods should be used to ensure the correct bacteria are growing, and what cover crops are going to keep the soil alive through winter. We gained valuable knowledge about composting, its benefits, and its time-consuming creation process. Being there affirmed by knowledge about photosynthesis, bacteria, microbes, and their importance and relevance in everyday life. Not only that but my respect for farmers has strengthened since my experience. Today I was taught, that like anything that's worthwhile, farming takes time, patience, and dedication. Overall, it's up to us to help save and preserve the land that we ruined.

I truly learned a lot from this experience, and would, without a doubt, return to help out gain at the next chance. I always knew farming was hard work, but being there today showed me that there's far more to it than I thought. There's a lot of thought and consideration placed into everything. From where to put the plants/crops, which seasons will they best thrive in, which plants will bring the pollinators, what methods should be used to ensure the correct bacteria are growing, and what cover crops are going to keep the soil alive through winter. We gained valuable knowledge about composting, its benefits, and its time-consuming creation process. Being there affirmed by knowledge about photosynthesis, bacteria, microbes, and their importance and relevance in everyday life. Not only that but my respect for farmers has strengthened since my experience. Today I was taught, that like anything that's worthwhile, farming takes time, patience, and dedication. Overall, it's up to us to help save and preserve the land that we ruined.