Meet Marie-Eve O’Rourke, Student Volunteer
This week, weβre shining a spotlight on Marie-Eve O’Rourke, one of our student volunteers! π Marie-Eve began volunteering at The Mississauga Food Bank in January and in that short time, she has taken on many roles!
From volunteering with our Food Bank 2 Home program, helping us with food sorting and hampers preparation, to reception and data entry, Marie-Eve wears many hats!
“The COVID pandemic has exacerbated wealth inequality globally and consequently increased food insecurity for many individuals. I wanted to spend my practicum working towards preventing hunger in my community and helping those in need. To add to that, I have always been interested in sustainability, and I wanted to learn more about how we can avoid food waste.”
For Marie-Eve, knowing that she is making a difference in the lives of others gives her a sense of purpose and gratitude. “I work a lot with clients directly, and I hear firsthand how much they appreciate our help.
Some of our clients are refugees that have recently arrived in Canada. They are always deeply appreciative of our help. An example that comes to mind is a woman that visited only a few days before giving birth. Her husband lost his job due to the pandemic. He thanked me endlessly, reiterating that we were saving them during a rough patch. Volunteering gives you an opportunity to connect to your community and make it better.
I also believe it has noteworthy mental health benefits, as it is an opportunity to socialize and gives meaning to a regular day. A day spent volunteering at The Mississauga Food Bank is always a day well spent.” Thank you, Marie-Eve for everything you do here at The Mississauga Food Bank! ππ