Cindy has been a dedicated volunteer at our Senior Pantry for about 8 years and we are so appreciative of the time that she’s spent with us! Cindy volunteers at the Pantry every other Thursday assisting with bagging groceries and stocking items and providing any additional needed assistance to seniors shopping for food for their homes.
Cindy was born and raised in Big Rapids, but has lived in Grand Rapids with her family for over 33 years now. Cindy and her husband have two kids, a son whom is recently married and living in Orlando and a daughter who lives in the Grand Rapids area as well. As a stay at home mom much of her life, Cindy was looking for something to do to give back as her kids were now grown. She was drawn to Meals on Wheels as her mother used to deliver meals for her local program up north. Cindy called Meals on Wheels and was set up with the Pantry, and the rest is history. Danielle Simmons, the pantry manager says, “Cindy is a great volunteer because she loves to help people. Cindy has a compassionate heart and works hard to meet the needs of our clients. She also has a close friendship with our special needs volunteer. Cindy has taken him under her wing and guides him in complicated situations. I am very grateful to have Cindy on our team. Her kind, caring heart shines through every time she is here at the pantry.” And conversely, Cindy says the reason she is still volunteering at the pantry is because of the people that she volunteers with, noting how awesome Danielle is and how much she enjoys and values the mission. “It’s a good feeling to give people security, knowing that some would not have food if we weren’t here, it’s a good feeling to be able to give it to them,” Cindy states.
In her spare time, Cindy also volunteers at Frederik Meijer Gardens once a week as a docent. Volunteerism being important to her as something to do to keep busy as well as being able to give back to community that she has grown to love over the years. Cindy also loves to read, and is a part of a local book club. She is also a self-proclaimed ‘foodie’ and enjoys trying out the many different restaurants and eatery’s around Grand Rapids with her husband. They also love to travel, having explored Russia, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, and many more exotic places, and with no plans to stop either.
We are so thankful for Cindy’s commitment to our program and so grateful to have her as a part of our team. We appreciate her, and others like her who give so generously of their time to reach homebound seniors in our community. Thank you, Cindy!
