Helping Hands Food Pantry in Knoxville is looking for volunteers.

The local food pantry and thrift store provides a variety of food and items to those in need throughout the community and has recently transitioned to a client choice model. The pantry used to provide clients with a bag full of food without a choice in what was included, but staff is now in the process of allowing clients to choose the food they will use. 

Pat Finan with Helping Hands hopes this new model will help prevent food waste, and provide better nutrition and a better sense of dignity to the recipients, as well a better use of funds for the pantry itself. With the transition comes an important need for food distribution, organization, truck unloading, cleaning, and more. Finan says this transition is not possible without the help of dedicated volunteers.

“The one thing we realize is we can’t do this without the help of the community. What we’re trying to emphasize is the need for volunteers who can just come in and stock the shelves or better yet help the people with their food choices. As we move forward we will welcome more donations of money and food. The money will help us buy equipment that will help us operate more efficiently and safely for things like cleaner shelves and refrigeration units and things like that.”

The times that Helping Hands can use volunteers the most are the second and fourth Mondays of every month, along with any Wednesday and Friday from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm. The pantry is also exploring options of nights and weekends in the future as well. Those interested in volunteering at Helping Hands can contact Pat Finan by calling 641-230-1036.