WELCOME & SERVE!

We have mentioned in our recent volunteer updates that our Board has been working on updating our mission and vision. You can see the results of this work on our website mission page: https://www.penfieldhope.org/mission. This month we want to share a vital aspect of this work: "following the example of Christ."

You may have noticed that our mission now begins with this phrase "following the example of Christ." Our Board spent a good amount of time discerning how explicit to be about the Catholic roots of our Penfield Hope ministry. We are pleased to report that faith took precedence over business concerns.

As volunteers, we invite you to see your work at Penfield Hope as an opportunity to live your faith and follow the call of Pope Francis to encounter the poor. Your work as a Hope volunteer is ministry. When you have a challenging call to make, you will always get it right if you default to what Jesus would do.

For example, we do our best to check zip codes as people are making appointments because our service area is 14526 and 14625. It's important to do that. But what if/when there is a walk-in who lives in another zip code? There is no question: welcome them and serve them! Invite them to shop the food pantry and kindly offer them resources closer to home before they leave. (While we ask clients to book appointments so that we have ample time for everyone, walk-ins are always welcome.)

We are aware the zip code issue can be especially challenging with our sisters and brothers from Ukraine. When there is opportunity to graciously redirect them to pantries closer to their current home, we should do that. However, these people are facing other hardships at the moment as they may fear the loss of their temporary protection status and deportation. Feel free to be the face of Christ to them, welcoming them and sharing the abundance of food we have to offer.

You will see more fruits of our Board's and our volunteer committees' work in the weeks and months ahead. From this mission-vision work, two ad hoc volunteer committees have begun making enhancements. Members of the volunteer training committee are working on: shadowing opportunities for office assistants; clarification of the shift manager's role via survey and an upcoming meeting; check lists and forms review; check-ins with volunteers which will start soon. When we meet next week, we will focus on ongoing education for our volunteers focused on building on our listening skills. Members of the client process group are working on updating our referral resources and creating a process for regular check-ins with pantry clients and follow-ups with clients who receive financial assistance. Your feedback as we make adjustments is always welcome!

Thank you for all you do for our clients and each other! Know that you are following the example of Christ in the ways you listen to understand and serve Penfield Hope clients.

Duncan Harris

Cathy (Kamp) Glisson

Co-Directors