Providing an Essential Service: What does that mean for me?

Food, water, and shelter. Those are the three essentials most everyone names when asking what is most important.

I became a food banker in 2018. Through these two years, I have seen first-hand how essential nutritious food is to living and a life.

When Mayor Dan Pope issued a stay at home order, most folks had to move to working from home or even losing their job. My immediate thoughts were I need to stay home and protect my family. Be with my husband and three-year-old and hug them tight, but then my mind shifted because I remembered why I do what I do.

In my role here at the food bank, I work the communications side. My main goal was to let the public know that we are prepared to help those who need us most. Now my job became a bit complicated because I had to make sure that I was relaying all messages correctly because anyone who has worked communications in any form know that the way your message comes across is how the public will respond.

When I showed up to work the week after all non-essential business were closed, our staff came together and put our plan in place. My mind didn’t shut off for the initial two weeks. I didn’t sleep well, because I wanted to make sure that I was doing my part to the best of my ability to make sure all who needed us knew how to get in contact. That they received all the correct information. But I did what food bankers do best and figured it all out.

Each day we are focused on the many seniors, families, individuals, and children who are counting on us to help them get safe, nutritious food into their homes and onto their tables. Each day I wake up and remember why I do what I do. We all do. We are learning, assessing, adapting, and pushing forward each day to fulfill our mission to serve Lubbock and our surrounding communities. We’ve always known our food bank is important to our community, but this pandemic has taught us that we truly are essential.

Vanessa Morelion
Communications Manager