A-Team in Action!

Second Harvest has its own A-Team. And they are more indispensable than Mr. T or any of the other characters in the action-adventure television series from the 1980s. This group of six to 10 members have worked quietly, consistently and without much fanfare since the departure of the National Guard from Second Harvest in early July 2021. Two of our largest drive-thru distributions, Black River Landings and Oakwood Park, are often the ones with the most need for volunteers. This group consistently shows up 90 minutes before the start to help the Second Harvest staff perform the complete set up for the afternoon. That means following mapped out logistics, working with equipment like pallet jacks to move product into place, setting up tents and setting up traffic parameters for safety and flow.

Volunteers were recruited in May to be part of the Advance Team. They worked alongside the National Guard for the two months before their departure to learn how they performed their set-up duties. Shozo Kawaguchi, Volunteer Engagement Specialist for Second Harvest shares, “This group has been amazingly consistent. They show up every month and get the job done. I can’t even express how helpful their effort and commitment has been to us.” He adds, “Many times, after the set-up many will stay to help with registration or load cars during the distribution, too.”

“The A-Team takes a lot of pressure off of me and the driver. We’re able to focus on unloading the truck and guide them for an efficient set up,” notes Heidi Wolf, Mobile Distribution Coordinator for Second Harvest. “Their help is invaluable.”