Hello all! My name is Mallory and I am a Sodexo Dietetic Intern in the distance option. I have just started my community rotation and my main site is at a local food pantry. I have not volunteered or visited many food pantries in the past, so my experience is minimal.
When some people hear the words “food pantry” or “food bank,” the first connotation can be negative. Probably because a mental image appears of a warehouse or storage-like area filled with canned meat/veggies, lacking any bit of variety. Unfortunately, in some cases, this is true. However, the site that I will be at for the next month is quite unique. Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministries, or BEAM, is working to change this undesirable association.
When some people hear the words “food pantry” or “food bank,” the first connotation can be negative. Probably because a mental image appears of a warehouse or storage-like area filled with canned meat/veggies, lacking any bit of variety. Unfortunately, in some cases, this is true. However, the site that I will be at for the next month is quite unique. Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministries, or BEAM, is working to change this undesirable association.
BEAM has two locations in order to support a wider span of the large Jacksonville community. One of the sites has a dietitian on location Monday through Friday who offers support for a slew of needs (i.e. one-on-one counseling, pantry tours/shops, recipe help, etc.). The pantry is filled with a wide variety of items, ranging from fresh meat to cold-pressed juices- all donated from the community and local grocers. And last but definitely not least, they have an on-site garden! The harvested produce is brought inside for washing, and is immediately put on the shelves for the customers to take. Educating shoppers is much easier to do when the items on the shelf are nutritious and fresh.
I now realize how important and influential a dietitian’s role is in a food pantry. This rotation has been eye-opening so far, and I’m just getting started!
I now realize how important and influential a dietitian’s role is in a food pantry. This rotation has been eye-opening so far, and I’m just getting started!
