by Bruce M.
Years of scouting taught me that service has always been about far more than the act of giving; it’s about connection, growth, and showing up for people the way they show up for you. My experience with Joshua’s Heart Foundation (JHF) over the past few years has been a powerful illustration of whole-hearted service in its truest form.
During my recent trip to South Florida, together with a dedicated team of youth leaders, parent volunteers, and a very generous corporate donor, we accomplished something truly meaningful: Distributing 12,000 pounds of food, including fresh vegetables, fruits, produce, essential groceries, toiletries, and household supplies, to over 250 families, impacting nearly 1,300 individuals, including 325 children.
As the leader of the Partners and Sponsors (P&S) team at JHF responsible for engaging new donors, I proposed a food distribution drive to one particular prospect nearly a year ago. With headquarters in Miami but locations in the Northeast including Connecticut (CT), my home state, I initially considered this effort should be closer to my home, enabling more of my direct involvement. However, building a new distribution network from scratch in CT proved complex and time consuming, so we all agreed to reroute our food distribution project to Miami where systems were already in place, streamlining the impact to families in need. I flew down to Miami for a three-day effort and spent the first day staging hundreds of boxes at the corporate sponsor’s offices, where their employees generously helped us pack them with food. With their help, we were able to transport all the items the following day to our distribution hub.
The travel and the commitment to this food drive proved to be the easy parts. I completely underestimated the magnitude of sorting, packing and moving six tons of food, until you’re up close and personal with it! Coordinating volunteers, organizing the food setup with the corporate sponsor, transporting the boxes, and packing hundreds of bags of food, completely redefined the meaning of preparation for us.
Late Truck? Broken Lift? No Problem!
Who needs smooth logistics when you’ve got teenagers ready to turn a food distribution event into an extreme sport? The day of the event proved that no matter how much you plan, there is no guarantee that the events will flow smoothly. One delivery truck was late, courtesy of Miami traffic. The second truck made it on time, but the lift gate was stuck, Murphy’s law in action. Collectively, we sprang into action without hesitation and manually unloaded thousands of pounds of food, working as a team and forming assembly lines, with the help of students, parents, community members– even two particularly strong Army volunteers – to move everything to its precise location as quickly as possible.
Under the brutal sun of Miami heat (which, to be fair, felt amazing after leaving 32-degree weather in CT), we set up thirteen tents of food, sorting tables and assembly operations. We were there for at least six hours, while some stayed longer; while you’d think it would have been exhausting, the reality is it was exhilarating. The feeling of collaboration, fast and efficient, was a master class in adaptation and collective inspiration!
It was Just a Regular Saturday….for Most
These food distribution events with JHF happen almost every other Saturday, and the Miami crew of volunteers show up each time without fail. As families arrived, their need and their gratitude was evident, even overwhelming. At my station, I helped pack non-perishable items into bags and handed them out to residents patiently waiting for hours. I engaged with local families practicing my Spanish and received countless blessings of “Dios Te Bendiga Mijo!” On this particular Saturday in February, I was humbled to say the least. Nothing compared to the immense fulfillment of knowing we made a meaningful difference in these families’ lives. It was a tangible and powerful moment.
I also got the chance to connect faces to the names of my peers who have been volunteering with me from across the country at JHF. I met Maximo, an eighth grade student who used his organizational talents as the Head of Pantry Operations Elect to help me lead this drive. I met one of my mentors, Amanda, who has been so supportive of my growth within JHF. I got to see again, and work directly with the undisputed GOAT, Ms. Claudia, the heart and soul of JHF! I was able to meet our corporate sponsors and thank them for their generosity in helping us make this event a reality.
Parent volunteers worked tirelessly alongside us, demonstrating that service is a lifelong commitment. Giving back isn’t just about providing food or resources; it’s also about reminding people that they are not alone and that their community cares. I leaned on my peers and they in turn supported me in this endeavor. With youth taking the lead, we stepped up to show that our generation is more than capable of making a difference.
I’m incredibly grateful to JHF and to all that helped, to my parents for always encouraging me and facilitating the trip to Florida, and particularly to our corporate sponsor for their support and empowering us to demonstrate that when passionate teens come together, they can move mountains to change things for the better in our communities.
