Name(s): Barbara and Steve Astoria
What inspired you both to volunteer at Feed More? We have always been inspired by Feed More’s mission. While a teacher, I (Barbara) heard about Meals on Wheels, the weekend BackPack program and the Kids Cafe program, so when I retired, my husband Steve and I decided to become volunteers.
How do you both lend a helping hand at Feed More? And how long have you been doing it? We have been volunteering in the Community Kitchen at Feed More for six years. I (Barbara) work in the packaging area helping get the meals out on time, and Steve works in the food prep station.
What do you love most about volunteering at Feed More? The staff is absolutely fabulous! They are positive and always helpful. We also love getting to know the fellow volunteers that we work with every week.
What is your favorite memory at Feed More? On the days we volunteer something interesting always happens. In fact, there was a time that I (Steve) put too much cinnamon in the cinnamon apples and had to get help from the chefs to fix it! So every volunteer day has a special memory.
Where is the coolest place you have traveled to and/or want to travel to? We have gone on some amazing trips, but visiting the Lascaux caves in Dordogne, France was great. To think that these drawings were created over 17,000 years ago gave both of us goose bumps!
Steve also remembers a great trip to the Grand Canyon where he hiked down to Phantom Ranch and back to the south rim.
When you’re not volunteering, what is your favorite thing to do in Richmond? We love to play golf together, and go to see live theater.
Why should people volunteer at Feed More? Besides the fact that it is a great organization with a mission we love, when you volunteer you are busy from the moment you walk in the door until your volunteer shift is over. It makes you feel as though your time is well spent and it is.
