Congratulations to Lee Auerbach, CRC’s 2024 Volunteer of the Year!
Lee has been volunteering with Community Resource Center for two years and in that time has proved to be an incredible advocate for our work in the community.
He has a heart for underserved individuals and jumped in immediately as a Food Pantry Volunteer and Ambassador for us. He knows our clients by name, and is an enthusiastic part of the team on Mondays.
Last year, Lee took on the challenge and embraced a leadership role to oversee Group Engagement Activities at our Food Pantry. Having a designated lead volunteer for this has opened up night and weekend opportunities for groups to engage in our work and mission. Where we previously hosted a few groups each year, we now host groups 1–3 times a month!
Lee oversees each group’s experience from scheduling to arrival. He emails them in advance and is on-site to greet them, giving a tour and a brief introduction to CRC and our food distribution journey—from farms, local grocery stores, and food drives to the hands of those experiencing food insecurity.
He then leads a fun, interactive experience in deep cleaning and preparing the Food Pantry to make it a more dignified space for our clients, which also supports our ongoing volunteers who do the weekly upkeep. We get incredible feedback from groups that they leave feeling more connected to our mission and that they truly made a difference.
Not only has this opened up a more established volunteer opportunity, but it has allowed organizations to get a first-hand look at the work we do. These organizations and volunteers are partnering with us in our mission, which is incredibly valuable.
When asked why he volunteers for CRC, Lee responded:
“Life is a blessing. Through CRC, I can share my heart, fill hungry stomachs, build relationships, and create a safe space for our local community. It is the most fulfilling, loving and humbling experience to be with both the volunteers and clients every week … and I’m grateful for every interaction.”
