There is so much to say about this dynamic duo. Janette and her daughter Katie are vital to the Second Helpings volunteer team. The service they both have provided through the years has been outstanding. There has never been a time when they have yet to answer the call for additional help. I also want to acknowledge how they promote Second Helpings’ mission within our community by bringing awareness for hunger relief.

Thank you, Janette and Katie, for supporting Second Helpings.

Learn more about Janette and Katie in their own words below.

How did you become involved with Second Helpings?

In August 2014 a Second Helpings staff member (maybe Nora?) spoke at our church, Allisonville Christian Church, about Second Helpings’ mission and how folks could get involved. Katie said it sounded interesting. Since she didn’t have a driver’s license, Janette thought it would be easiest to volunteer together.

What things have you done since you began volunteering with us?

Our first shift was January 3 or so, 2015. We were the only volunteers in the kitchen. They handed us a few regular bags of onions and asked us to quarter them. We did that and were feeling pretty accomplished when someone wheeled up a flatbed cart with a 50-lb bag of onions…. We weren’t smart enough to quit, so here we are. We have chopped veggies and meat, refilled the herb & spice containers (our favorite task), filled grab-n-go’s (we were part of the Friday afternoon COVID pod), made sandwiches, sorted food in the Hub, cooked meals in the tilts, watched the ovens, helped deliver meals and pick up rescued food. We have also volunteered for the Souper Bowls and Corks & Forks for several years. We currently wrap and label pans on Monday afternoons.

What have you liked best about volunteering with us?

Being able to contribute to the Second Helpings mission to feed people in the community. Because we see the names of a lot of the partner agencies who receive meals on the pans we wrap, we feel connected to those community members who are being fed.

What are you most proud of accomplishing through your volunteer work here?

Regularly wrapping and labeling over 100 pans in an afternoon! Also, that our church has sponsored several (5, I think) CJT classes, so we’re involved in all aspects of Second Helpings’ mission.

What do you do when you’re not volunteering with us?

Janette is a retired environmental consultant and a compulsive community volunteer. Katie is taking a break from schooling.

Do you volunteer for any other organization?

We both volunteer with our church (Allisonville Christian Church), Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity, and Purdue Extension/4-H. Janette also volunteers at Linwood Christian Church’s Food Pantry, CURV, Marion County LEPC, SAWS, and various neighborhood organizations.

What would people be surprised to know about you?

Katie is a wealth of information on lots of marine wildlife, as well as some video games. Janette knows lots of arcane facts about hazardous waste and air permits and she used to show cows, pigs and sheep as a 4-Her.