Volunteering Saturday Mornings to Fill a Void
“Sometimes you can just do things,” Stephen Zipkin said at a recent outdoor community meal on one of a few recent balmy Fall days, “because you think someone ought to be doing them.”
Zipkin is a volunteer who has been serving food with Washoe Food Not Bombs for two years. A student at the University of Reno, Nevada, Zipkin is studying environmental science and stands by the mission of Washoe Food Not Bombs. The group of volunteers meets at Barbara Bennett Park every Saturday at 10 am to serve food to anyone who is hungry. The group has no formal structure, yet they are still able to come out and reliably deliver a hot, healthy meal to those in need.
“I believe that if I’m paying taxes, the government should feed homeless people, or else what am I paying taxes for?” Zipkin asked. He feels that organizations like Washoe Food Not Bombs are essential in urban areas where food insecurity is a major issue and can help fill the cracks tax dollars do not fill.
About ten volunteers mingled about the two tables set up under a tree when we caught up with Zipkin. The tables were filled with freshly prepared food and a sense of community was in the air. As we spoke, volunteers poured coffee, sliced bread, and scooped freshly made soup into bowls. People came and left with a plate full of food.
Feeling Gratified to Help and Expanding Offerings during the Winter
“I think the act of scooping rice and beans onto a plate is gratifying,” Zipkin said as more people came. Washoe Food Not Bombs has become a staple within the community of Reno. Those without stable shelter or reliable access to healthy food know they will be here and this consistency increases the impact.
“We get food any way we can,” Zipkin said. In weeks past, they have received donations from local bakeries as well as churches. Beyond that, volunteers will cook meals at home. They try to consider food allergies, however, when preparing the food, so more people can have a meal. Zipkin explained they regularly serve about 50 to 60 people.
“We don’t really have something for everyone to do, but it’s great,” he said. “It’s a special environment.” He said he enjoys the social aspect just as much as passing out food. Not only can he connect with like-minded people, but he gets the opportunity to talk with those in need and hear more about how they are doing.
Not wanting to get shut down by the city, Washoe Food Not Bombs volunteers preemptively began wearing masks and gloves when the pandemic began. They know the homeless are more at risk and do not want to spread Covid-19.
“I had it a couple weeks ago,” Zipkin said. “It was three days of symptoms, and not fun.” He avoided volunteering with Food Not Bombs until he was clear of symptoms but was not daunted and came back out to volunteer.
With occasional snow and colder temperatures now upon us, Zipkin explained that volunteers have started collecting jackets and other warm clothing to pass out in addition to a hot meal. They also try to collect and pass out tarps which can provide valuable shelter during the colder, stormy months.
“We generally get fewer people in the winter,” he said, explaining that it is tough for the homeless to choose between a shelter, which many try to avoid in most situations, or outside where they have to contend with the harsher elements.