Food bank may welcome back volunteers in June

Revamped rules, safety guidelines being prepared

The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma is setting the stage to welcome volunteers back to its warehouses for the first time in more than a year.

While no specific date has been set for volunteers to rejoin the food bank’s efforts, the month of June is the target. Leadership is still working out logistical details for keeping staff and volunteers safe, said Cathy Nestlen, director of marketing and communications for the Regional Food Bank.

Nestlen said they are taking into consideration what group sizes the facilities can accommodate while maintaining CDC guidelines for social distancing and masking, and other safety measures.

In addition to small groups, the food bank also plans to return to offering volunteer opportunities for those with court-mandated community service to fulfill.

Volunteers anxious to help

Smaller shift sizes does mean less space for volunteers, and despite expected hesitancy from some, Nestlen said she doesn’t think the food bank will struggle to find help.

“We’ve had calls ever since we shut down the volunteer opportunities,” she said. “We’ve had calls consistently, ‘Put me on a list. Let me know as soon as you can when you want to reopen. I can’t wait to come back.’”

Throughout 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted operations for nearly every business in Oklahoma. The food bank was no different.

“Like any other non-profit or any other business, we’ve all had to pivot, and to be responsive, and to adapt,” Nestlen said.

Volunteers, who sort and pack about 20% of the food distributed by the food bank annually, according to Nestlen, have been missing since late March 2020.

Donations helped with demand

At a time when demand for the food bank’s services were increasing, staff were forced to make a health and safety decision that caused a sudden cut to their manpower.

The food bank hired temporary employees during the pandemic to fill the gaps left by cutting volunteer opportunities; an option only made possible by increased donations.

The increased monetary support also helped when global supply chain disruptions impacted product donations, she said. The food bank made purchases to replace goods normally received from retailers and manufacturers.

The food bank serves 53 counties in central and western Oklahoma through partnerships with more than 300 organizations offering food assistance.

Official dates and sign-up information for volunteering will be made available via Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma social media and at RFBO.org.

CHRIS LANDSBERGER/THE OKLAHOMAN Katelyn Gleason-Dockery prepares to load a box of food into a client’s car on July 8, 2020, during the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma food distribution event in Midwest City.