Great Stories
Montana Campus Corps:
College Students Meeting Critical Community Needs
A DAY AT HELENA FOOD SHARE by Malinda Diamond

by Malinda Diamond
There are so many amazing stories that can be told everyday about people in need. And just when you think you have heard them all, there is yet another story to add to your thoughts. You know that all saying “Don’t judge someone, until you walk a mile in their shoes” We all are reminded in a humbling sort of way just truly how fortunate we are in our own right, when you take the time out of your all too busy life and volunteer your time. We all know that it is a great think to do, and the giving back that you get in so many ways are like pearls of wisdom one hope that they will never forget. I believe it is a way for us to remain humbled and greatful for where we are, where we’re going and where we could be. So as I write this story of remembrances I am reminded in these reflections how you can turn a corner in your life and changes occur not necessarily for the good. For I too in years past have found myself without a job, a place to live and destitute for money and not knowing where to go next. As it turns out, Helena Food Share was one of the simple things in the Helena community to find key answers on what I should do. They are in the business of not only feeding people in need they help perform many other programs as well; one is providing books of all kinds to share and bring back to re-distribute for someone else. They provide Seniors Monthly commodities, assistance with finding jobs in our community, and other good works. The volunteers at Helena Food Share are truly amazing folks, they are a group like no other, and I appreciated each and everyone of them,and their shared stories of life’s jounreys and how they have come to serve as volunteers. Which brings me to my story about an individual. I will call her Sally in my story. I have been volunteering at Helena Food Share from September thru July. Sally would come in everyday for what we call “daily’s” this is where people can come in on a daily basis and get things such as cooler items, bread, produce, extras, this helps people stretch out their monthly groceries in-between the weeks when they can come in to shop for their monthly plan, where they get much more food.
Anyway I was pleased to meet with Sally one cold afternoon; she is about 55 years of age, scantily dressed and on the thinner side. On Wednesday I do what we call “In-take”, this is where I meet and greet individuals for monthly groceries, take them back to my desk and update their information into the computer, strictly for our records. It gives us information on updating their family size, income if any and other information. I always start out with salutations and generalizations how they are doing; this sets the tone for our conversation and the gathering of my asked information. So, I say “and how are you today Sally”, she looks at me with her bright smiling eyes and says fine. “I’m feeling much better today, I just came from the doctor and my cancer is back”. Her husband had just passed away 3 months before, leaving her with no insurance and many medical bills, Sally can’t find a job, no one will take her and her pre-existing conditions, and when she could have worked, Sally is often too sick Sally has had many tragedies in her life. So as a human connection one to another there is great humility and feeling from one person to another, there is a special bond I feel for Sally, everytime I see her. She is never one to complain about her life, she holds me to that saying which is a constant reminder, “Don’t judge someone, until you walk a mile in their shoes”. Because we never know what someone else’s challenges are. We are all here to learn from each other it is the bigger picture of our great connecting circle of life and where we all should be. So if you think you’re too busy to get involved with “your” community and the world around and you just don’t have the time, just do it anyway, you never will regret it, it is part of the greatest adventure in people helping other people you will every experience. It is I believe a gift back, we all owe one or two. Not only a gift in a sense to you because you learn so much, but also within the framework of listening and helping others . You really often times get more then you think you are giving. I know I do, how about you?






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