Agency Spotlight: Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program

For this Agency Spotlight we interviewed Heather Arvidson,  Volunteer Coordinator for Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program. Volunteers play a vital role in much of the work that we do, and we spoke with Heather about how MCHPP highlights their important contribution. 

Tell us about your program.
Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program's (MCHPP) mission is to provide hungry people with access to healthy food, work to improve the quality of their lives by partnering with others, and serve them in a manner that recognizes their dignity. Thanks to a partnership with Good Shepherd Food Bank, MCHPP acquires fresh produce, dairy, eggs, meat, and other food items from local supermarkets for distribution in our seven other programs. Onsite our Soup Kitchen serves lunch six days a week, serving over 40,000 meals every year, and our Food Pantry provides groceries to guests four days a week hosting a total of 8,973 visits in 2018. Our Pantry to Pantry Program delivers to over 60 home bound clients, and our Mobile Pantries go into neighboring communities to meet food insecure people closer to home. For youth, MCHPP partners with 35 schools through our Backpack Program to feed students over the weekends during the school year, and we partner with schools, churches, and other community groups to provide youth and guardian meals over the summer.

How are volunteers important to your organization?
Volunteers at MCHPP play an integral part in serving our community. They prepare and serve lunch, they pick up donations and deliver groceries, they pack boxes and bags of foods, and volunteers always provide our guests with a warm and welcoming environment. Our volunteers ensure that all of our hungry neighbors are welcomed with open arms and leave well fed. Our volunteers are committed to the mission and feeding hungry people. Thanks to their hard work, dedication, and skills MCHPP is able to feed over 4,500 food insecure people every year.

How do you engage your community and recruit volunteers?
MCHPP is fortunate to have strong name recognition and we’re highly respected in the community. This means many of our volunteer recruits hear about us and our opportunities through word of mouth. Our community of existing volunteers are our greatest asset in recruiting new volunteers. Volunteers bring their friends, and promote MCHPP at work, schools, churches, and other community organizations. Many of our staff are out in the community building partnerships, and often discuss the variety of ways for community members can get involved.

Since April is National Volunteer Month, this issue of our Newsletter is focusing on ways to show appreciation to volunteers. What are some of the ways in which your organization celebrates volunteers?
The most important way we appreciate our volunteers is by thanking each volunteer personally and frequently. Volunteers receive thank you cards and emails reflecting on their hard work. Every month MCHPP highlights the work of a different group of volunteers and programs, which allows volunteers in specific programs to reflect on the work they’ve accomplished; and educates others on all the different aspects of the organization’s success. Volunteers receive pins, hats, and other small gifts with different hourly achievements. And every year the agency also hosts a Volunteer Appreciation Event.

Lastly, do you feel it’s important to recognize volunteers? Why?
Volunteers are donating their time and skills each time they support MCHPP. It is their hard work, commitment, and contribution that ensures our hungry neighbors get the food they need every day. It is important to recognize the dedication of volunteers so each individual understands their impact at the agency and in the community.