On Thursday, January 17th, eighteen CTSI team members joined forces to volunteer at the San Francisco Food Bank, which provides resources to thousands of families in San Francisco and Marin counties each month.
The team supported the food bank's efforts by sorting, bagging and boxing food items. With the help of a volunteer team from UCSF Pediatric Surgery, the CTSI team processed 9,600 lbs. of apples and 4,200 lbs. of kidney beans and pasta. In total, the group's efforts will affect 21,000 food bank clients.
"It's really wonderful to work for an organization that supports community service volunteering," said Angela Rizk-Jackson, part of the CTSI volunteer team. "It reinforces the message that giving back is a priority. As for the event, I had a great time with my coworkers and left with such a good feeling, I'll definitely make time to do it again."
And others agree. "This is a great way to both connect with coworkers in a new way and make a difference, and we're looking forward to organizing similar efforts in the future," said Aria Yow, another CTSI volunteer and an organizer of the event.
The volunteering event was part of CTSI's Learn and Grow initiative, which emerged following a 2011 Gallup survey conducted at UCSF that included the question, This last year, I have had opportunities at work to learn and grow. Inspired by that idea, a group of CTSI employees developed the Learn & Grow initiative to host discussions, workshops, and other informal events that provide an opportunity for CTSI faculty and staff to learn more about their colleagues, both professionally and personally, and to support the growth and development of the CTSI community.
Learn more about volunteering at the SF Food Bank here.