Food bank volunteer honoured for 5000 hours of service

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on April 13, 2022.

Herald photo by Alejandra Pulido-Guzman Interfaith Food Bank Society of Lethbridge volunteer Iris Richardson celebrates with her husband Ted as she was recognized Tuesday for 5000 volunteer hours at the Interfaith Food Bank.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

A significant milestone has been reached by an Interfaith Food Bank Society of Lethbridge volunteer who has been donating her time for over 25 years to help those in need.
After retiring from a career as a pharmacist, Iris Richardson started volunteering at the Interfaith Food Bank and now has reached 5000 volunteer hours.
Her significant milestone was recognized by the staff and other volunteers Tuesday with a small gathering. They surprised her at the intake desk where she has spent most of her 5000 hours, did a countdown and popped some streamers and a bottle of sparkling apple juice.
Richardson said volunteering at the food bank is very rewarding and she enjoys seeing the people that come to the client intake desk.
“I started volunteering here because my husband started volunteering here. I had retired and had nothing to do and I wanted to do something I thought I would enjoy and I really enjoy this,” said Richardson.
But Richardson is very shy and jokingly said that if she knew the celebration was happening, she would not have shown up.
Interfaith Food Bank executive director Danielle McIntyre said Richardson is the first volunteer ever to reach such a milestone with the food bank.
“This type of commitment is something that we need to acknowledge and recognize, because it is so significant,” said McIntyre.
She said Richardson usually volunteers a day, or a day and half per week at the moment but in the past she would volunteer up to four days per week.
“Her job has been primarily with serving our clients, so she works in the client intake department and she works with our client software that tracks their usage, and helps us in referring them to other services,” said McIntyre.
She said that anyone who has accessed the food bank in the last 25 years would recognize her as one of the friendly and welcoming faces at the food bank.

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