The Legacy Food Bank, located in South Bend, has been serving the community in one capacity or another since 1985. Currently, Legacy provides food to over 300 families each month, for an average of 650 people. It is a much needed, and appreciated, service to those in need in our area.
Legacy is run by an all-volunteer Board who unfortunately, due to age and physical limitations, do not feel they can continue performing the tasks that are necessary to keep the food bank open. At this point we are hoping, and praying, that we can find others who are willing to take over the operation of the food bank.
The perfect scenario would be if an organization was interested in taking it over, a church, a civic organization, etc., as running the food bank is a lot like running a small business. That being said, all of us currently on the Board are just members of the public that volunteered at the food bank and eventually became Board members, so if there are enough folks with the needed skills that are willing to come together to create a new Board that will work also. The current Board will of course help work with the new Board to ensure a successful transition.
The current Board consists of a President, Treasurer, Secretary and two additional Board members. The new Board should have at least five members. Some of the duties of the Board include reporting to agencies that donate food, managing food purchases, completing state and federal reports, paying monthly bills, processing background checks for volunteers, scheduling volunteers, and managing food bank funds and donations.
In addition to the board, many volunteers are needed to help with picking up donated food, filling food boxes and distributing them to clients, processing new clients, and maintaining the client database, among other things. Many of these tasks require standing and lifting. Currently, there are not enough volunteers who are able to do the physical tasks that are required.
Through a posting on Legacy's Facebook page, a few folks have already shown interest regarding becoming a Board member or working as a volunteer.
If you are interested in being part of the new Board for Legacy or if you are someone who has the physical capabilities to help as a volunteer, please attend an informational meeting on Thursday, March 23 at 6:00 p.m. at the First Lutheran Church at 103 Adams Street in South Bend to learn more.