Volunteers of the Week

It's remarkable how a small idea (like one man serving food out of his car 10 years ago) can make a huge difference. Because FOF is so well thought out, it makes it simple for just about anyone to do their part.

I like that FOF sees the big picture and is not just a meal ticket. It's a way to eventually a way to get off the streets when a person is ready. I thought of many things I like about FOF, but they all boil down to this... it's got a lot of heart.

A common thread from each serving experience is just how polite, kind and positive everyone is... always ready with a "How are you", "God bless you" and a smile. There's just so much potential to be realized.

-Vivian

FOF gives me the opportunity to step out of my little bubble of a world and reach out to help others. Hearing the thank yous from the people that are served is a win/win situation. Even if I'm not in the best of moods that day I leave feeling much better. And in this case, payback is instant!


FOF works out the hope muscle. Every time I come and hear the stories of the graduates, of the people who at one time (or many times) have stood in that food line or worked on the work crew, and every time I witness the award ceremony I always get a little choked up. It tears at my heartstrings, and at the same time builds my hope. It hits very close to home for me too, as I have a family member in San Francisco that could use this organization, this support, and the hope it provides. I see her face every time I come here. You have to tear a muscle a little in order for it to get stronger. Right now there is only one FOF but we can always hope!


This past Thanksgiving I stayed in town and attended the FOF feeding. When we were told we would be giving out backpacks to each person in line and walking them through from beginning to end I got nervous for a minute - what am I going to say to folks? But it was great talking to all the different people, especially a high school student. He was with his whole family and they all got backpacks. We talked about school and how he was determined to graduate.

-DaHanna

Food on foot has become one of my favorite things to do on a Sunday afternoon. I love the simplicity of the program and what it has to offer to the homeless. The fact that this program puts people to work and offers them dignity and respect in the community by being of service is a great way to really instill hope back into their lives. When I listen to people who have graduated the program share their experience of how they did it and what it means to have their lives back again I can't help but want to be a part of that.

What I can offer every Sunday for about an hour of my time seems like a very small piece to play in this great program which obviously affects so many of the homeless in ways which I can not describe. You just have to be there in the food line to get the feeling of helping another person to truly appreciate this program. See you in the line.

-Dominic

"Lots of sex and lots of money" was what the then
107-year-old Mr. Fairbanks said on the very first day
I volunteered, as being the key to living a long life.
Having just handed him a muffin from the food line, I
must admit that I was a little taken aback by his
unsolicited advice. Nonetheless, I couldn't help but
smile.

After living and working in the artificial world of
Hollywood, it was refreshing to finally find myself in
reality, and face to face with a vibrant man over a
century old, wearing a white suit with a pink
handkerchief in his lapel pocket, standing in a food
line in the parking lot behind the Hollywood Gay and
Lesbian Center. For the first time since moving to the
West Coast, I was honestly happy.

I came to Food On Foot expecting to help those less
fortunate and left, on that very first day, 2 years
ago, knowing that this program would mostly help me. I
was simply seeking a way to give back to my community,
and discovered that what I was really searching for
was, in fact, a community. Food On Foot promotes the
values of an altruistic society and provides an
environment for people, who live in the same region,
to meet, interact, and support each other in the
spirit of being neighbors.

I most appreciate that volunteers in this program
don’t just give out food, but are given an opportunity
to be with their neighbors and, maybe, watch them grow
because of their donated time and money. You watch a
man you handed a box of chicken to 3 weeks ago with
limited future prospects realize that he has the power
to change his situation and work hard enough to earn
his way onto the work for food crew. And then, after
some time, that same man graduates out of the program
and finds employment. Of course, this doesn't happen
over night, but the fact that it does happen is truly
amazing and wouldn't be possible without the support
of the community that Food On Foot provided for him.

Food On Foot has taught me that every person’s life
journey is mapped out with many peeks and valleys, but
it is how you navigate through and around the rough
terrain that determines your success in this world.
There are many reasons why someone ends up standing in
a food line, but there are fewer reasons why that
person remains in that line week after week, year
after year. Food On Foot provides food for many, but,
more importantly, this organization also offers a way
to get out of the line.

Devoted FOF Volunteer,
Kristi Korzec

We all have something that motivates us to give.
My thing has always been feeding the homeless- What
is wonderful about FOF is that you can actually see
the impact you are having on them. It is amazing and
humbling to be apart of FOF-something- much bigger
than myself. Meeting Jay and the volunteers -like
Barry, just makes you want to keep showing up-and that
is what LIFE is all about - (showing up is half the
battle) the rest....


The whole way the program is set up. I love how it
runs like a successful business. And that as a
homeless person if you have desires to get back in
society there is a clear cut system set out to fallow.
That is what makes FOF sooooooooo unique!!! A
road to begin. FOF is the real thing and when in the
presence of such integrity you always want more.
Greeting all the people and giving them eye contact is
a uniquely personal experience, and for me it makes me
feel less guilty and more connected. So I guess I do
it for myself as much as I do it for them.


I also love the way everyone shows up and just
gets to the work at hand. A sense of community begins
instantly. WE are all there for the same purpose as
one. That is a rare experience for a bunch of strangers
in a big city like LA. Meeting Mr. Fairbanks and
hearing him sing the Our Father was priceless!

Thank you,
Antonia

My name is Teri. I am honored to be selected as the
volunteer of the week. I started a new career a year
ago at Wildtracks, a Sound Editorial Company located
in Hollywood. As I started to become familiar with
the neighborhood, I started to feel the need to give
back to this wonderful community and I am so blessed
that I found Food on Foot. FOF has been such an
uplifting experience for me. This organization makes
me feel connected to the community in such a positive,
uplifting way I have volunteered at other
organizations and never felt as connected with the
people. I love the fact that when I arrived everything was so
organized and highly efficient I get the immediate
results of smiles and joy of those less fortunate than
myself. FOF allows the homeless to take pride in a job
well done to earn food vouchers and bus passes. These
are such positive steps in giving these forgotten
souls self-esteem and confidence to get back into
society.

I found the award ceremony especially moving. I love
the smiles and light in their eyes when their names
are called as we clap & cheer them on It is such an
amazing experience it actually moved me to tears the
first time I volunteered. Not only does Food on Foot
feed the homeless and hungry and sponsor a work for
food program, it gives participants an opportunity to
earn self-respect, gain the confidence to obtain and
hold a job and become self-sufficient and get off the
streets.

Teri

Food on Foot is simply an amazing organization. It challenges people to do more when they really don't have to. Everyone at some point takes their life for granted. It is usually not until something bad happens that you realize how fortunate you are. Working with Food on Foot I watched people, who carry their homes on their back, greet me with a huge smile on their face because of what FOF does. FOF inspires everyone to do more, homeless or not. It reminds you that you have options. That "giving up" is your choice, not one forced upon you.

Last Sunday, I met both people new to the program and those that have been sticking with it for several years. It was incredible to see how FOF helps instill confidence in people who start out with nothing. I believe that is where I can make a difference. By being a volunteer, we can show those in the program that people do care about their well being. Hopefully that will be enough to give these people back the confidence they once had in themselves and they will be that much closer to getting their lives back in order.

It is wonderful to be the FOF's "Volunteer of the Week," but I think the real people that should be honored are the ones that make it through the program. There are many success stories and I hope they are as proud of themselves as we are of them.


Thanks,
Sean

Food on Foot has given me an opportunity to feel that I can help others out. It is structured in a way that makes it so easy to be a volunteer. The structure of the feeding allows a closer contact with the people, too. The chance to share a smile and a few words helps to connect with them as individuals. Every time I have volunteered, my day is brightened and I am reminded how much I do have and how blessed I am. I am thankful to have found out about the organization and to have the chance to support it. I will encourage others to help out, too.

I like that the program offers more than just food for the people on the streets. With the other parts of the program, the people are being built up and empowered. They are learning responsibility that allows them to eventually get off the streets and get an apartment and a job. To hear the stories of these successes is wonderful. It shows what can be done by helping one person at a time.

My most memorable experience was from Christmas 2004. I encouraged my brother's family to join me for the feeding that day. I brought some Christmas candy donated by Nestle to share. My two nephews (Adam 12 and Kyle 9) helped me to distribute it. It was great to see them interacting with the individuals coming through the line. The special attention that they paid to the families warmed my heart even more. The experience helped them realize how blessed they are and how wonderful it feels to help others. It made our family Christmas the best one yet! What has made it even better is that my nephews have continued to help out with the feedings to this day.

-Ruth

Food on Foot is an opportunity to be a part of the solution to the homeless problem. The organization is run like a business and instills confidence and competence in homeless, past homeless and volunteers. Through confidence and competence, participants build positive self-esteem that they can support themselves and rely on themselves. Volunteers get the opportunity to rid themselves of guilt, and instead be a part of a solution to homelessness and hunger: two deplorable conditions which exist in America.




A memorable experience was the Christmas serving. As a volunteer, I stood in line with folks who were there to receive their Christmas meal. I met a man who lost his job and ended up homeless. He worked in the music industry, and went from a paid working project to homelessness. Our discussion humanized this man, and helped me realize that many homeless persons are not lazy, but are people who caught a bad break and did not have a family member to support them through tough times.

-Claude

Food on Foot is a way for me to spend my time being productive and an outlet for me to give back even if it's just an hour of my time.

I like that it's just not about giving food and sending them on their way that it's a program that offers rehabilitation to those who want/need the help.

A memorable event was my last serving. It was on the same day as the LA Marathon and part of me really wanted to bow out of the serving. The thought of traffic and the crowd was very discouraging but I knew that it would be very irresponsible of me to do that so I got motivated and made it there. I was really glad I did because there were quite a few volunteers that didn't show up and we were short handed. Short as we were, we managed to get everyone fed and on their way. Being there made me realize how much these people counted on me to show up, even if it was just to pass out some chicken and say hello or have a good day. It made me realize how important the volunteers and contributions are in this organization, that my money/time is actually going to directly helping those in need.

-Janet

People seem to be overwhelmed with our biggest social problems so they do nothing. I love that FOF shows that all any of us can do is just get out there and do something. That's how FOF was begun 10 years ago and that's how FOF continues to grow. There may not not be one big answer to hunger and homelessness, but there are a lot of little answers.

I like that being involved with FOF is being involved with people. When you volunteer, you have the opportunity to share a few hours with people you may not know in your everyday life, the other volunteers and the workers and the people in line. I think it's good for all of us to get to know a little more about each other.

I was struck by the kids in line with their parents. We all read statistics about homelessness and familes, but until you see kids in a food line, statistics don't mean much. The experience of extending a hand and having a hand extend back was very powerful. The FOF serving experience leaves you with a sense not that you gave something, but that something was shared.

-Stephanie


FOF is not just serving hungry people but more importantly, opportunity and hope.

I like that FOF is grass roots and that all the money that is donated is spent on getting people fed and getting people work.

At the serving, Charles shared his journey from urban camping to being an apartment dweller which was very informative and very impressive. I was also really impressed with the work crew. The work crew seemed like they were invested in their work and like they cared about being there. It didn't feel like charity, it felt like a job was being done by people who cared about their work.

-Paul

For me, Food on Foot means that aside from providing food for the homeless and poor, it is actually an opportunity to get individuals reintegrated into society and show that there are people who still care about them, even if for a short time they veered off track.


What I most like about FOF is that it is truly a work program, and it is easy to see a difference being made with the individuals that participate on the work crew. I also like the commitment that FOF has made to these individuals by gaining their trust and showing up every week rain or shine.


I was able and honored to attend the 10 year anniversary serving just yesterday, and what moved me was when a member of the work crew received 10 days in a hotel. The sense of pride he showed and the support from other members of the work crew was "phenomenal." As a volunteer, it's great to see the successes of the individuals that participate in the program.


-Lauri

The first time I came to a serving I left sobbing. I got into my car and realized there are so many things that I take for granted. Seeing how grateful and appreciative the Food on Foot "clients" were of the smallest things really put things into perspective for me. To me Food on Foot means another chance for the homeless and poor. This organization has created an environment for these people to build their confidence and help them get back on their feet. The thing I like most about Food on Foot is seeing the same people come back. It shows me that they are ready to make a difference in their lives.

-Tiffany

Food on Foot is a way to recognize those people less fortunate in our city and to provide them with structured assistance that allows those people to gain trust and confidence in themselves.


What I like most about Food on Foot is the energy of its founder and the motivation you see and feel in the participants. This program is about confidence, and Food on Foot is able to nurture, feed, and develop that confidence.

Everyone in L.A. should attend a Food on Foot event to see the harsh realities of people's lives and how a little bit of attention and confidence building can have a lifelong lasting effect.

-Richard

FOF is an inspiring example of how a simple idea can have an enormous impact. Empowering the homeless to take pride in a job well done and to earn food vouchers and bus passes in exchange for their work is a first step toward enabling them to reclaim their lives, which is far more meaningful than a food hand-out alone.

What I like most about FOF is meeting the people the organization serves and hearing their stories. To hear people like Daniel and Charles share what they've been through and to see the obvious pride and gratitude they feel for where they are now is extremely moving. I also really like the award ceremony at the end of each serving, seeing people who have been so marginalized just light up when their name is called and everyone is clapping for them. We all take for granted how good it feels just to be recognized or validated or appreciated for something we've done, and the award ceremony is such a simple way to provide that for people who may not be receiving it anywhere else.

Volunteering with FOF makes me feel connected to the community, both by meeting and serving the homeless in my own neighborhood and by getting to know the other volunteers. My favorite experience so far was the week that I was on lollipop duty (walking up and down the food line handing out lollipops before the serving), because I got to have some sort of contact with almost everyone who showed up that day.

-Noelle

One of my new year's resolutions was to be involved in things other than myself and I was looking for an organization that makes an impact in the community. I was interested in the hunger relief because to me, that is the most basic needs and it's so easy for anybody to help out in that cause. It was after coming here that I realize that the program is so much more than feeding the homeless and the hungry. It helps people who want to get out of their current conditions and aspire to something more than the immediate meal and to have a better life. What I do as a volunteer is so little and so easy in comparison to what the food on foot crew does. In many ways I don't feel that I have earned the volunteer of the week title.


What I like most about volunteering, besides the living evidence that the program works, is hearing and seeing how the program has changed people's lives. Hearing the success stories is absolutely moving.

-Wendy

For me, Food on Foot means there is still so much
good left in a world that tends to fixate on the bad.
Hope and compassion are commodities of immeasurable
worth and with those FOF serves so much more than just
meals. People DO care, and I'm drawn to that.


FOF promotes participation, interaction, and
self-worth. So many people who have fallen into
unfortunate circumstances are willing and able to WORK
for their next meal and FOF encourages this. There is
a sense of "opportunity" that you can read in the eyes
of so many of the participants. Things CAN get
better....lives CAN change.


Just this past week after the feeding, something
really moved me at the "award ceremony" where all the
participants of the cleaning crew are introduced.
There was a genuine sense of pride in the face of
every single participant that came up to receive their
food vouchers. But one woman in particular (Lucy)
upon learning she was chosen as
"runner-up" was sincerely ecstatic. Jumping, clapping,
laughing....it was infectious. Everyone erupted in
applause. Her spirit is what Food on Foot is all
about. You cannot put a value on the satisfaction of
earning an accomplishment, no matter how big or small
the reward might be.

-Michael

A BIG Thank You to Tarun Inuganti and his group of volunteers from Spencer Stuart Company for sponsoring the Sunday February 26th Hollywood feeding.

Food on Foot is a unique volunteer opportunity that
puts us in contact with people in need and a direct
reminder to not take what we have for granted. The
goal is to not just hand a person a meal, but to give
him confidence, opportunity and hope to be able to
provide his own meal.

Food on Foot runs a tight ship. That’s what first drew us to
the organization. What keeps us coming back is the
hope we have for each person we meet and the belief
that they could be the next success story.

Listening to Charles humbly share his story about his
life on the streets and where he is now is proof that
Food on Foot is not just a meal ticket. When Charles
first showed up, Food on Foot handed him a meal but
with continued commitment he got a job. And now he
lives in an apartment with furnishings from donations
wrangled by Food on Foot volunteers. Charles
continues to show up to thank the individuals that
helped him. He tells his story just a few feet away
from the food line that he used to stand in.

Jess & Patrick Ferguson

What Food on Foot means to me is that someone decided to try and make a difference and it has been working successfully for almost 10 years.

What I like most about the organization is how well it is run. Many others have tried, but Food on Foot appears to have been able to do it successfully. I especially like the emphasis on accountability for both the homeless and the volunteers.

A memorable experience is the gratitude that everyone, in need, shows during the feedings. It is very heart warming to know that in some small way, I and Food on Foot have made a positive impact on the lives of people that are much less fortunate that the volunteers.

-Harlow

Food on Foot inspires me. It's one of the few programs, if not the only, that actually helps people to better their situations through their own hard work. To see people that have hit upon hard times do all they can to make it back into society is humbling. It makes me truly appreciate all I have and I feel like a better person because of it. For me it's a way to do more than just give time and money to a cause I believe in. It's a way to interact with people that want to make their lives better and, over time, to witness their hard work pay off.


First off, what I like about Food on Foot, is you get to see immediate results. A smile on a child's face when you hand them a fruit rollup. Someone excited to have your old pair of tennis shoes. It's instant gratification. I also just love the program. Food on Foot is run like a business, everyone is held accountable. That's real life. I like that. The program treats everyone like human beings, which I think is what sets it apart from other programs.


At the first feeding I went to, my job was to pass out the oranges. I'll never forget when a few people passed them up. "No thanks, don't like oranges." I realized then that no matter what, if someone doesn't like something, they won't eat it. I just found that so cool! These people are still themselves, and I thought, they can make it. They haven't lost themselves yet, they haven't given up hope. It may seem silly to get all this from someone passing on an orange but if you had looked into their eyes you would see it too.

-Meghan

Wow, I am really excited to be volunteer of the week! I want to thank Food on Foot for a wonderful experience on Christmas Day. I realize FOF does this each and every week, rain or shine. I think that just being there means the world to so many people. I know when I was down and out in my life there was just that one person that said "Hey are you okay?" Someone being there at the right time probably saved my life. Actually, I know it did! Not many people know this, but I also lived on the streets, in abounded cars, and buildings. It is a rough life, but there is a way out. That's why I am so proud of Food on Foot for giving people a chance. The organization and volunteers are an inspiration to me.

Thank You,

Rachel

Food on Foot is an opportunity to share in a program that not only practices compassion and generosity and charity, but emphasizes the equally important need to rebuild the internal lives of the less fortunate --- by teaching the values of self-esteem, loving support, hard work, and reliability with the eventual aim of steady employment.

What I like most about Food on Foot is the small, familial atmosphere, the fact that charity is balanced with the emphasis on working for what you are given.

I was deeply moved by the three men who shared their stories and journeys on Christmas Day --- how Food on Foot was so instrumental in helping them get off the streets, get back on their feet and make such profound changes in their lives.

-Jeanne

Food on Foot is simply an amazing organization. It challenges people to do more when they really don't have to. Everyone at some point takes their life for granted. It is usually not until something bad happens that you realize how fortunate you are. Working with Food on Foot I watched people, who carry their homes on their back, greet me with a huge smile on their face because of what FOF does. FOF inspires everyone to do more, homeless or not. It reminds you that you have options. That "giving up" is your choice, not one forced upon you.

Last Sunday, I met both people new to the program and those that have been sticking with it for several years. It was incredible to see how FOF helps instill confidence in people who start out with nothing. I believe that is where I can make a difference. By being a volunteer, we can show those in the program that people do care about their well being. Hopefully that will be enough to give these people back the confidence they once had in themselves and they will be that much closer to getting their lives back in order.

It is wonderful to be the FOF's "Volunteer of the Week," but I think the real people that should be honored are the ones that make it through the program. There are many success stories and I hope they are as proud of themselves as we are of them.

Thanks,
Sean

I have been attending and contributing for 8 years. Food on Foot means seeing old friends, meeting like minded people, and helping others, which gives me much joy.

Food on Foot gives me a vehicle to participate with my kids, in an activity that has true meaning. It shows my kids that they have much to be thankful for and that they should give back to the community, since we have been so blessed.

I like knowing we make a difference in people’s lives by providing a hot meal, or giving people who have been down a second chance.

My favorite feeding experience from Food on Foot was when we first met Ronnie. This 106 year old man belts out the Lord’s prayer after talking about how he worked for Al Capone.

-Barry

I have greatly enjoyed my afternoons working with Food
on Foot and I look forward to spending more Sundays in
Hollywood with Jay and his wonderful team. I am
grateful to Food on Foot for providing me with an
opportunity to give back to the community I live in.

I actually feel most alive and happiest when I am
helping those in need. Talking with the men and women
in line for food I have been strongly reminded that
those of us who are lucky enough to have "safety nets"
(ie: families with the resources to help us
financially and emotionally), need to act as the
safety nets for those without.

I thank Food on Foot for reminding me that I do have a purpose here on
earth other than helping women dress for the red
carpet and I hope to one day inspire others as the
Food on Foot team has inspired me.

-Mary Ellen