On-Shift: Van Driver Spotlight Part One - The Produce Market Shift
Honk! Have you seen Food Link’s vans? Our vans play a major role in our operations. Every day, we pick up bulk loads of produce, prepared meals, refrigerated goods, and other items that we wouldn’t be able to transport without our vans from grocery stores and wholesalers, and deliver them to our recipient agencies. For many of our volunteers and supporters, spotting our vans out on the road is their first introduction to Food Link. But who are the incredible people who drive these vehicles?
For this two-part blog special, our admin assistant Darcy interviewed seven of our volunteer van drivers. In part one, you will hear from four volunteers on their experiences covering one of Food Link’s most exciting shifts: the Produce Market shift! Watch out – our volunteers’ stories might tempt you to sign up for a van driver shift.
Meet the Drivers
Image Description: Albert stands on the loading dock at the New England Produce Market. Behind him are pallets of onions and bagged produce. (Image Credit: Albert Lew)
Our Marvelous Monday Volunteers
Kevin and Albert volunteer every Monday morning, picking up food from the New England Produce Market in Chelsea to deliver to Arlington EATS and our Hub. Kevin first started volunteering at Food Link as a grocery store sorter-packer and a hub-shift sorter. After he heard we needed more van drivers, he signed up for training and began driving for the produce market shifts. Similarly, Albert had been volunteering for a few months when a staff member spoke to him about Food Link’s need for van drivers. Now, both he and Kevin pick up an average of 1,131.3 lbs of fresh produce each shift for our recipients.
Our Wonderful Wednesday Volunteers
On Wednesday mornings, Bob and Eric pick up more food from the New England Produce Market for East Boston Harborside Community School and for further distribution at our Hub. Bob was drawn to the shift for the opportunity to engage more deeply with staff and volunteers within and outside of Food Link, while Eric had grown up driving vans and reveled in the chance to be active and put his skills to use.
Time to Hit the Road
Image Description: A wide shot of the the produce market with multiple large white trucks in view. A Stop and Shop truck is parked on the right of the image. (Image Credit: Albert Lew)
At the Produce Market
The Produce Market is an animated place bustling with massive trucks and vans, with bounties of fruits and vegetables. “You get to see lots and lots of food,” Kevin describes. “It’s entertaining.” Wholesalers donate food that's edible but above their spoilage threshold, or when they have a surplus. The volunteers then stop by the loading docks of about six food donors each shift and, on average, pick up around 2,828.25 lbs of fresh produce collectively each week. Albert loves when a wholesaler provides an item that Food Link requests that is not regularly available. “Our donors are exceedingly generous and efficient. We are thankful for every bit that we get,” he says.
The most strenuous part of the shift is packing the food into our vans. “The loading and unloading of the van can be a workout, but it's normally not too taxing,” Bob explains. “Also, you usually don't work alone.” Eric states that while the shift requires a lot of lifting, there are safe lifting practices to ease the tension. Although the Produce Market may be physically demanding, the hard work pays off in the end once the food is delivered to our recipient agencies.
Your Delivery is Here: Connecting A Food Link Community
Image Description: A photo of a parked Food Link van with its compartment door open. Inside are a couple stacks of banana boxes and plastic crates. (Image Credit: Albert Lew)
Our volunteers agree that the best part of the van driver shift is interacting with Food Link community members. “You meet and get to know a lot of good people that you'd likely never encounter otherwise,” Bob says. He loves “seeing how happy some people are to receive food from Food Link,” and he enjoys collaborating with staff and volunteers from our partner agencies. Kevin is fascinated by each pantry’s unique operations, and he appreciates the opportunity to observe firsthand how organizations distribute Food Link’s donations. The drive also provides him the chance to chat and get to know his fellow Food Link volunteers.
Besides offering the opportunity to cultivate relationships, the van driver shift also illuminates the full extent of Food Link’s reach. Both Eric and Albert find it to be an informative way to learn more about our process. “Witnessing the ‘full supply chain’ of Food Link by doing van driving in addition to hub and grocery store shifts provides a great perspective for Food Link's mission,” Albert asserts.
Passing Advice
Image Description: A photo of a ladder stretching from a Food Link van compartment to a loading dock where a man stands maneuvering boxes onto the ladder. (Image Credit: Albert Lew)
If the thought of driving a van quakes your nerves, our volunteers are here to share their advice and assurances. As with all driving, safety procedures are a must, and Eric’s substantial experience with van driving has made him an expert. Here are his three best tips: exercise caution when driving by crosswalks and bike lanes, coordinate with your fellow volunteers when backing up, and double-check the security of your cargo before you drive.
As long as you practice appropriate safety techniques, driving a van does not have to be scary! Kevin emphasizes that if you make good use of your mirrors, driving a van isn’t too different from driving a car. For Albert, driving a van can even be less stressful than commuting. “The traffic is what it is,” he states. Bob assures, “The driving itself is not hard at all–just pay attention to the training, mind the mirrors, and go carefully.”
Ready, Set, Go!
Are you ready to sign up as a van driver? If you are, email our Volunteer Coordinator, Bridget M., to schedule a one-hour van training. From there, you'll be equipped to start driving for Food Link! Even if you don’t feel ready to drive a van, you can sign up for passenger shifts to help load and unload the vehicles and still play a major role in delivering food.
With much gratitude to Kevin, Albert, Bob, and Eric for their stories and advice, we are concluding this part of our van driver spotlight. However, don’t leave just yet! Stay tuned for our next blog post, where three more volunteers will share their experiences. A dollhouse may be involved…
If you would like to volunteer at Food Link like Kevin, Albert, Bob, and Eric, we encourage you to sign up on our Get Involved page! Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media to keep up with all Food Link news. If you have any questions, email us at info@foodlinkma.org or call us at 781-819-4225.