Van drivers urgently needed for food store pick-ups
Note from Pam DiPietro: “We need to get the information out that we can use more people to help with food store pick-ups. We are especially looking for people to help as the second person on a van to help pick-ups go easier. Below is the message I sent to the drivers … If you know anyone that can help, please pass the word along.”
Dear Drivers,
We have a changing of the “Guard.” For the past seven years John Murphy has been our “Driver Coordinator.” He has decided he is ready to step down from that position. The food bank is forever grateful for the many hours John devoted to finding drivers, training drivers, visiting the stores when necessary, solving problems regarding pick-ups and doing the pick-ups when unable to find a driver at the last minute. Thank You John! God bless! Enjoy your retirement.
Stepping into the position of “Driver Coordinator” is Nancy Keller. Nancy has been helping and doing training by fire most of the summer while John was away. She kept the schedule straight, she found subs, and when she couldn’t she went on the pick-ups herself (often times taking her husband along). Thank you Nancy for taking on this role. You have a tough act to follow, but you will do just fine.
Continuing to assist will be Maria Walwork. Maria has filled in for both John and Nancy when they were away. Thanks Maria for staying on in that position. You have been a big help whenever it was necessary to help with finding subs.
Subs – This is an area where we need help. We have a nice list of subs, but most of you have busy schedules and can only help on certain days. We are in need of help often times at the very last minute, due to illness or emergency. We are in need of a couple of people who are available, more or less, 24/7. A person(s) that when we call at 7 a.m. and say a driver is unable to fulfil that day’s obligation, will step forward and do that run.
We realize this is a tall order, but if we had two or three of you we know we can call at the last minute, it would be wonderful. While Nancy is acclimating to the position, and fulfilling all of the other projects she had already taken on through the rest of this year, Michelle and I will be making the calls looking for subs when the need arises.
We also need someone who has the time to orient new drivers and go with them on their first run so they are comfortable and understand what stores have “special rules” about picking up.
Another thing we need more help with is the big pick-ups. It makes the job a lot easier and faster if two people can go on the big runs. We will be asking the general public for help in this area.
The Warehouse staff will identify any last minute pick-up issues and notify the food bank liaison. For example, contacting a first shift driver who has not left by 7:30 a.m. (with the exception of Saturday & Sunday, Vans 1 & 2 should be on their way to the “big stores”).
A great big THANK YOU to all of you that make this very important piece of the food bank happen. I’m sure that with everyone’s help pick-ups will continue to happen in a very orderly manner.
Pam DiPietro
Executive Director
