Story courtesy of Swarthmore Athletics

PHILADELPHIA - Sandwiched between two practices and a strength and conditioning session, the Swarthmore College volleyball team volunteered Tuesday afternoon at the Philabundance Hunger Relief Center.

Philabundance was created in 1984 with a simple belief that no man, no woman or child should go hungry. The non-profit organization helps a large percentage the nearly one million people in Delaware Valley, nine counties in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, put food on the table each day, providing food to approximately 72,000 people per week through multiple programs.

The afternoon began with a brief introduction about the organization from volunteer coordinator Gerald and a short video. The team was then equipped with jackets, gloves and (for some) proper footwear prior to reporting to the large refrigerated room where temperatures dipped below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Prior to the work beginning, the group was split into sorters, weighers/packers, and box assemblers. Once everyone was in position, the conveyer belt started up and the sorters began unloading pallets piled over five-feet high of donated meat from area grocery stores. Those stationed at the weighing machines grabbed assigned meats off the conveyer belt and packed into boxes until the desired weight of 30 pounds was reached. Those boxes are then redistributed to families in Delaware Valley.

After sorting over 12 pallets of frozen meat, the Garnet volleyball team helped place nearly 14,000 pounds of food back into the homes of Delaware Valley. The experience was very rewarding and each member of the team enjoyed the afternoon at Philabundance.

More information on Philabundance