Volunteers at Kids’ Food Basket fuel our mission each day through planting, harvesting, prepping, packing, and delivering nourishing food. They drive our success and help all children thrive.
Our drivers play a critical role in KFB’s mission. Many of our weekly drivers offer their gift of time multiple times a week and use their own gas and vehicles to deliver the nourishing meals to the schools. Their dedication and impact to the mission is immeasurable.
Many of our Sack Supper packers have been a part of the mission since the very beginning. Whether they have been with KFB for 18 years, or it is their first time as a packer, their impact goes far beyond the shift. They pack thousands of meals with kindness and love to ensure thousands of children across West Michigan receive a healthy nourishing meal each evening.
We are so grateful to every single volunteer that engages with us as we would not be able to nourish children to reach their full potential if it wasn’t for their generosity and compassion for their community and neighbors.
Name: Rusty and SJ Trapp
KFB Volunteer Experience: Driver and Packing
How did you first hear about Kids’ Food Basket?
SJ: When we first moved here in ’99, I joined a newcomers of Grand Rapids group and they had a volunteer group. When you move to town, you might not know where to volunteer and they, as an organization, picked Kids’ Food Basket when it began in 2002. They would send people to help pack. We’d do every Wednesday from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Why did you choose to volunteer? How long have you been volunteering?
Rusty: I do not remember how long I’ve been driving – I would say six or seven years. I filled in on the packing line, that was how I started. One of our group members wasn’t able to make it so I started packing as his substitute. I remember going to the first building, but I remember the second building the most. Since I’m out of town all the time I couldn’t commit to a certain day, so it was great being a sub driver.
SJ: When we got here, our youngest child was in first grade and I wasn’t working, so I had time to fill. My mom was a volunteer her whole life so it was probably in my blood that I needed to do something in the community. Now, with no kids home and not working, I had to fill the gap! It’s fun! I bring my friends to volunteer.
What is your favorite part about volunteering at Kids’ Food Basket?
Rusty: Definitely, for me, it is to see the smiles on people’s faces when I drop the Sack Suppers off. I think how all I did was drive, I didn’t stand for six hours putting the bags together, but people are full of gratitude. I think of it like my job, I am a pilot for American Airlines, everybody else loads the airplane, fuels it, and plans the flight and then I just say welcome aboard and do my job.
SJ: There is a lot of gratitude here, too. Tera and everyone is always appreciative. I also appreciate the organization and its efficiency. Sometimes you volunteer and they don’t need you and it gets frustrating. Here you know how many volunteers they need for a shift and it gets filled. In fact, the other day, Austin and an efficiency team were working with us on something and I was thinking, “I like that” because they’re trying to improve what they’re already doing.
Do you have a favorite Kids’ Food Basket memory?
SJ: In the old building, we always packed on Fridays. The dumpster would be full of cardboard boxes and we’d have to jump up and down on all the boxes. It’s silly, but a great memory!
Rusty: My most memorable delivery was at the Hispanic Center of West Michigan during COVID-19. The number of people that were there waiting in line to get meals – and they are still there. I remember coming back along Grand River Dr and seeing the lines of people. I thought, “Wow, we are really helping out here in my community,” and that hit home. It feels very impactful.
Describe your experience with Kids’ Food Basket in one word:
SJ and Rusty: Rewarding
What is one thing you learned while you were volunteering?
SJ: The need is far greater than I ever thought. We have the schools we serve, but there is a waiting list of schools. Visually, that is impactful. When you pack you see all the food going out the door, but we still need more.
Rusty: I learned that I live in a bubble. Volunteering here has exposed me to different living situations and it helped me appreciate what I have, but gave me a desire to help others.
Why should someone volunteer?
Rusty: Because why not!? It’s the highlight of my day. It is gratifying! Especially now, if you are sitting around with nothing to do – why not?
Favorite fruit or vegetable and way to eat it?
SJ: Mine is apples! I just cut them and eat them.
Rusty: Cold watermelon! I love just about any fruit or vegetable.
