Community Center seeks volunteers
4:13 p.m. Tuesday, August 12, 2008
"I think it's good. It's in the right neighborhood, the right area," say Samara Thomas.
She used to attend high school there, but today she's at the Antioch Life Center to look for food.
"I just started a job and I'm just kind of getting my place. I'm doing the single mom thing. It's a little easier when you have people helping you," Tamara said.
"Just about a week ago this was all empty," said volunteer Sara Stauffer.
She helps out with the center's food pantry. She said the food goes out just as fast as it comes in.
Antioch Life Center
"It's nice to be able to help them. You just wish you could do more for them, too," she said.
The food comes from donations and the Harvester's program. They try to provide more nutritious foods like whole grain bread and vegetables. But the food pantry has limited hours.
"We are going to ticket all these items so we can rotate them out," says volunteer Wesley Marshall.
He explains residents in southeast Topeka are desperate for more of these types of services and he would like the Antioch Center be a one stop shopping place.
"When our consumers have to go from one food bank to another to find diapers and what not, it hurts me to my heart," says Wesley.
A midnight basketball program to keep kids out of trouble and an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting place is just a couple of the programs the Center hopes to add. Wesley says that's where additional volunteers are key so they can help those like Tamara get back on their feet.
"I'm just glad they're here. It's a blessing" says Samara.
Reser's Foods has promised a sizable donation of frozen foods but, in order to accept it, the Center needs someone to donate the use of a refrigerated truck.
If you can help with that, or donate time, food or clothing, call the Center at 232-1937. The Antioch Life Center is staffed with Americorps VISTA Volunteers. More information on the Americorps Vista Volunteer program is available at www.americorps.gov.
49 Community Report
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