On Wednesday, April 26, 2006, members of the Massachusetts Association of Women Lawyers volunteered at the Greater Boston Food Bank. M.A.W.L. was represented by President-elect, Rosemary Eacman, and Elizabeth K. Steel, Esq. They joined other volunteers from such places as a biotech company, and students from Dean College in sorting through donated foods for distribution to the needy.

The Greater Boston Food Bank has a large warehouse where it receives food donations by the tractor trailer load from local supermarkets, restaurants, etc. For only about two and a half hours volunteers sorted through the goods donated by supermarkets that were damaged or otherwise not sellable. We learned that while a store might not be able to sell a dented can of tuna, or a torn box of cereal, or something past its expiration date, it still would be perfectly good to eat --if it met certain criteria. Volunteers, in assembly-line fashion, examined each item that came along by conveyor belt to see if the item was safe to donate. We saw everything from bottled water and juice, to cans of vegetables and fruit, potato chips, flour, salt, candy, juice boxes, jars of peanut butter, canned tuna, pop tarts, breakfast bars, candy bars, and boxed cereal.

In the end, staff calculated that the volunteers sorted through 5,535 pounds of food and salvaged 4,429 pounds. The staff estimates that in general, twenty percent of the food ends up being thrown away due to contamination. Each volunteer sorted through 164 pounds of food and made possible 126 meals! The whole group made possible 3,402 meals in one evening!! This food is then distributed to such places as food pantries, homeless and battered women's shelters, as well as other charitable agencies.

 

All in all, it was a very worthwhile evening and M.A.W.L. hopes more people can take part in the future!