Today, we’re excited to highlight regular pantry volunteer and board member, Lin McCracken. As part of the Board of Directors, Lin represents her church North Shore Presbyterian, one of the member congregations of Interchange, and she also assists with the Board’s Operations Committee, where she works behind the scenes to help keep the pantry running smoothly.
Lin recently shared with us what motivates her to volunteer with Interchange.
“Out of all the volunteering I’ve done, this work with Interchange caught me the most. Many of us take for granted that we are going to have something to eat, but there are so many people who have to choose between eating today and meeting some other need,” she said.
“We’re doing so much good for our guests by providing healthy food and culturally appropriate items,” Lin said.
“We’re taking care of people and building relationships with those we see regularly, which is really gratifying. We don’t want our guests to feel any sense of embarrassment when they come to the pantry. We want everyone to feel that they’re welcome and valued here,” she added.
Lin makes sure she brings humor, compassion, and positive energy to volunteering at the pantry, adding a personal touch like giving a child a high-five or checking in with a new guest on how their day is going, when they are waiting for their groceries.
Interested in following Lin’s lead and volunteering at the pantry? We have numerous roles and shifts available, from prepping food bags to serving guests—we would welcome your gift of service! If you aren’t able to volunteer, you can still support the pantry with a generous donation to our Healthy Food Fund: https://gofund.me/f827bfe0