Abia Powell (AP), with her compassionate heart, stepped into the world of volunteerism with the North Fulton Community Charities (NFCC) food pantry. For her, it was more than just a Day of Giving; it was a journey of empathy, community building, and personal fulfillment. Engaging in packing and distributing groceries to families in need, Abia found a sense of purpose and connection with those around her.
AC: What organization or local cause did you volunteer for?
AP: I volunteered for NFCC in their food pantry section. I assisted in packing groceries and giving them out to needy families.
AC: Can you please provide an overview of their mission?
AP: Their mission is to help ease hardship and foster financial stability in the surrounding communities.
AC: Was this your first time volunteering for this organization or cause? Please elaborate.
AP: Yes it was my first time volunteering here. I had someone in my complex that received help from them and I would give them rides to the pantry sometimes. I had been planning to volunteer for some time but hadn’t gotten the time.
AC: Where there any requirements for this type of volunteerism?
AP: There were no requirements to hand out food.
AC: Why did you choose to volunteer here for your Day of Giving?
AP: I enjoy what they do, I find that a lot of non-profits that genuinely offer help get lost behind the big names. But the biggest part about building a community is to help those around you to rise to where you’re at. And this organization does that. Plus, everyone there is so nice and constantly looking for ways to make other lives easier. I wanted to be apart of that.
AC: Can you tell us about your volunteer experience? What did you do? Did your time volunteering meet your expectations?
AP: It was a great experience! Watching families receive quality food was a joy. They were very organized so packing things up was very simple. The family would order their food on a computer with a shopper number we gave them, and we would get the order on our end and pack it up. It was quite simple. Thats what I did for my entire time there. I definitely plan on going back to help maybe once a month.
AC: What would you like to share to encourage others to volunteer their time and energy locally?
AP: I think the best way to show love is to give your time and energy to those who may not be able to afford to do the same. It’s not enough to just notice things, real change happens when you dedicate time to making something happen yourself.
AC: Is there anything else that you would like to share about your experience?
AP: No, just that it was a great experience.
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Volunteering at NFCC opened Abia’s eyes to the incredible impact of grassroots organizations often overshadowed by larger names. Her experience underscored the power of community support in lifting others and inspired her to continue giving back. To explore more stories like Abia’s, visit the Inspiring Forward collection https://activusconnect.com/inspiring-forward