GROCERIES FOR GOOD

Age doesn’t matter when you share your love of food to help others.

At 89, Dora May Meredith proves that a lifetime of giving truly is possible. And this home cook is still at it, fighting hunger in her hometown of Rockford, Illinois.

What’s a charity that’s close to your heart? It’s called the Rock River Valley Pantry, here in Rockford. It’s the biggest community-based food pantry in Northern Illinois.

How did you get involved, and how long have you been volunteering there? I was looking for a way to help people and saw a newspaper ad asking for food pantry volunteers. I called and started a week later, and it’s been five years now. I work three hours each Monday afternoon, doing everything from stocking the shelves to helping clients pick out and bag up their food for the week.

The people I help have a real need. When I work with someone who is getting food for a family of eight to 10, I think about how hard it must be to feed a houseful if you lack the resources. Sometimes I help clients who don’t have a can opener, so I make sure to get them cans with a pull tab on top. Dora May restocks shelves in preparation for pantry guests.

What do you want folks to know about food pantries? They’re very helpful for people with little money to buy food. And if you have the resources, it’s so easy to donate extra groceries.

For example, community members will donate fresh vegetables— something our clients could never afford on their own. Pantries can always use volunteers, so I encourage everyone to help out.

How do you share your love of cooking with your community? In addition to my work at the food pantry, once a month I bake cookies for The Carpenter’s Place, a nonprofit organization that helps the homeless. And I always make something special to take to potlucks, invite friends for dinner, and share what I’ve cooked—and extras from my garden—with my neighbors.