After retirement one tries to figure out what will fill their day.
That was the case with Bobby Kennedy when he retired after 45 years in the tech world. Bobby enjoys his married life, music, the beach and traveling, as well as being a great Dad and Grandfather to 5 children and 3 Grandchildren, but Bobby was looking for something more.
Bobby is a Wednesday and Friday volunteer who begins his day at 7am. He makes sandwiches and works the food assembly line (fondly referred to as the I Love Lucy Chocolate Factory scene.)
He was seeking something meaningful to do. “Meals on Wheels wasn’t the first thing that came to mind, but once I looked into it, I thought, that’s a good idea! Let me try it out.”
When asked how do you think your work at Meals on Wheels impacts others? Bobby states that he takes his role very seriously – especially with it comes to quality.
He states, “I think our biggest impact is making sure we delivery high quality food to the people who need it. We take great pride in what we make, making sure every sandwich has enough meat, every meal is packed with care. It is making sure everything is done right.”
One of the joys of volunteer work is the rewards individuals receive. Some of them are very unexpected. Such is the case with the connections that Bobby has made over the past two years. To Bobby, Meals on Wheels is a community which helps and supports each other during the time they all share together. One of the volunteers has a good friend who is going through cancer treatment. Each time she works, everyone makes sure they check in with her, it’s a very caring environment.
Bobby is very clear when he talks about the job itself. It is fast and furious, and one has to pay great attention to the role one plays. One of the most rewarding parts of volunteering for Bobby is the people. He says “The staff, the college students – everyone’s just great. We have a lot of fun together as well as working hard. The music starts and off we go. The best thing about this organization is that everyone leaves their ego at the door. We are here to help each other and get the job done.”
When asked, “What advice would you give to others who want to volunteer?”, Bobby says “Go for it. It’s a great place and a wonderful experience. You’ll meet good people and know you’re making a difference.”
We are grateful Bobby found us and appreciate his dedication to our mission.
