Helping the helpers

This is one of an occasional Prime Time series about volunteers.

Michael Iberis, executive director of Second Harvest Food Bank, 2805 Salt Springs Road, Youngstown, said last year more than 15,000 volunteer hours were logged. Although the volunteers are diverse, Iberis said most of them are retirees.

"I think they (volunteers) want to feed hungry people. They see that as a mission in their life to help people who have less than they do," Iberis said.

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Tony Fabian works in the warehouse at Second Harvest Food Bank, packaging orders for food that will be picked up the following day. He also drives a truck to various stores to pick up donations for the food bank, with occasional deliveries.

The senior volunteers, according to Iberis, are helping people who may be struggling, and it is an opportunity for them to give back to their communities.

Tony Fabian works in the warehouse, packaging orders for food that will be picked up the following day. He also drives a truck to various stores to pick up donations for the food bank, with occasional deliveries.

According to Fabian, the food bank helps more than 12,000 people each week.

"It totally amazes me - the people who need help in this area," Fabian said.

Fabian began volunteering at the food bank before he retired from real estate four years ago.

"I thought it was time to give back to the community that has been good to me and not spend all my time on myself," Fabian said. "As you get older, some people would prefer to sit in a chair. I don't. I can't sit still."

The food bank's mission, Iberis said, is to feed hungry people in Trumbull, Columbiana and Mahoning counties by "soliciting, storing and distributing food."

The food bank distributes more than 40,000 pounds of food daily, currently at a rate 4 percent higher than last year, Iberis said.

Food is picked up at one of the 153 agencies, which are mostly faith-based organizations or churches. From these pantries, the food is distributed into the neighborhoods, Iberis said.

Prospective volunteers fill out applications, and the organization evaluates their interests, talents and capabilities and screens as a safety precaution in order for them to volunteer at Second Harvest.

The senior volunteers at the food bank are phenomenal individuals, Fabian said. According to him, one woman volunteers from her wheelchair, and he knows a man who is older than 80 who still volunteers.

"They take time to do these things that a lot of people take for granted," Fabian said.

Betty Thomas said she and her husband volunteer every Monday at Second Harvest during fall, winter and spring. They have been volunteering for about four or five years, Thomas said, which began as a way to get out of the house and do something good.

Thomas said she and her husband work in the warehouse and re-pack bulk groceries into smaller quantities.

Thomas said the volunteers work at their own pace with no pressure, but they do a lot of work. Her favorite job is to re-pack the meat, rather than the cereal, which is more challenging.

Thomas said the seniors are mostly the same age who enjoy each other's company.

"We really enjoy each other because we have the same interests," she said of their conversations about grandchildren, hobbies and other commonalities.

Torney Comer works as the food bank receptionist on Tuesdays. She volunteers by running errands, answering phone calls, making copies and directing others.

"The need is still there in the Valley," Comer said about hunger.

When she answers the calls of those who request assistance, she says she immediately wishes she could run to the store herself and buy them groceries or take them to Walmart, telling them to pick out what they need. Instead, she must refer them to the help hotline to sign up for assistance through the food bank.

Comer said the callers sound somewhat relieved when they speak with her, because assistance is only one more phone call away.

"I feel like I'm doing something good for the community. The people at Second Harvest really appreciate volunteers," Comer said. According to her, the senior volunteers are a "dedicated group of people."