Week Thirteen
This is my official last week as an intern for the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia. At the end of this week, I will have finished my 300 internship hours! It feels unbelievably strange to think that I have dedicated over 300 hours of time to this internship. It feels like just a few days ago I was walking in to my first day on the job. I am incredibly thankful to have had such an amazing opportunity to work in my community to better the lives of those around me. I am also thankful to have accepted a part-time job offer with the food bank! I will start as a part-time Volunteer Coordinator this Monday, April 13, 2020. I was more than willing to continue my unpaid work; however my superiors at the food bank refused to let me continue working without pay.
Other big news this week would be the introduction of the National Guard to our facility. We have five consistent guardsmen who will work every week day at the food bank alongside us in the Volunteer Department. This has been such a wonderful experience. All of the men assigned to work at the food bank are wonderful. They each have such fun, distinct personalities that brighten up this dark time. Because of the National Guard, we were able to receive free publicity for the food bank! To hear about these fun publicity moments, and see my debut on television, keep reading about each individual day!
April 6, 2020
Today was the first official day the men of the National Guard joined us! It was so fun to meet each of them. They each have interesting stories, and we are so appreciative that they were willing to leave their personal lives to serve at the food bank. I had the opportunity to help lead the guardsmen with Bill, and even provide the five guys with a tour of the facility! I am excited to see how the rest of the week goes. Today was a great indicator that we will be able to meet the growing needs of the community with no problems!
Another big event for the day was we were able to start a new program to distribute food to our agencies. Because we are no longer able to have our non-profit partners pick up their food inside the facility, we are pre-boxing orders to be picked up outside the door. This will ensure the safety of our staff and our non-profit partners’ staff.
Later in the day, the brigadier general of the Georgia National Guard, Randall Simmons Jr., came to the facility to talk about the pandemic and speak to the men serving. Even though he is very high ranking, I must say I was extremely disappointed in the lack of truth behind some of his statements surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the premises of his speech were there is no need to wear gloves or masks, and COVID-19 is not transmitted in the air. Immediately, I knew he was wrong. However, as a Public Health major, I pride myself in being informed and knowledgable. After the general left, I was sure to fact check the information he said. He was very wrong. This was concerning because he is providing false information to the public. I hope he has since been corrected.
Assignments
- Provide a tour of the facility to the National Guard members.
- Lead and help box over three-hundred online agency orders.
Responsibilities and Competencies
- Responsibility I, Competency C: Distinguish between behaviors that foster and hinder well-being.
- Responsibility III, Competency A: Initiate a plan of action.
- Responsibility III, Competency B: Demonstrate a variety of skills in delivering strategies, interventions, and programs.
- Responsibility V, Competency A: Exercise organizational leadership.
- Responsibility V, Competency B: Manage human resources.
- Responsibility VII, Competency B: Apply a variety of communication methods and techniques.
- Responsibility VII, Competency C: Promote health education professionally and collectively.
April 7, 2020
We continued to work with our stationed guardsmen to fill online agency orders. This is a huge task that has been placed onto the Volunteer Department. But, we are handling the work load very well! We also had the chance to push ahead with Food 2 Kids bags. We bagged over seven0hundred bags! This was incredible.
Assignments
- Filled online agency orders.
- Bagged over seven-hundred Food 2 Kids bags.
Responsibilities and Competencies
- Responsibility I, Competency C: Distinguish between behaviors that foster and hinder well-being.
- Responsibility III, Competency A: Initiate a plan of action.
- Responsibility III, Competency B: Demonstrate a variety of skills in delivering strategies, interventions, and programs.
- Responsibility V, Competency A: Exercise organizational leadership.
- Responsibility V, Competency B: Manage human resources.
- Responsibility VII, Competency B: Apply a variety of communication methods and techniques.
- Responsibility VII, Competency C: Promote health education professionally and collectively.
April 8, 2020
Again, we continued to fill online agency orders. But, today had a very interesting element added. We had not one, but two different news outlets come to the food bank to film the National Guard working at the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia. We were excited to have the free publicity.
One media team was sent by the Georgia National Guard, the other news team was from Channel 46. I was not in the news story for the National Guard. I did make a very small appearance in the Channel 46 news story! How fun! To see my big debut, please click the link button below!
Assignments
- Fill online agency orders.
- Appear on Channel 46 news story!
Responsibilities and Competencies
- Responsibility I, Competency C: Distinguish between behaviors that foster and hinder well-being.
- Responsibility III, Competency A: Initiate a plan of action.
- Responsibility III, Competency B: Demonstrate a variety of skills in delivering strategies, interventions, and programs.
- Responsibility V, Competency A: Exercise organizational leadership.
- Responsibility V, Competency B: Manage human resources.
- Responsibility VII, Competency B: Apply a variety of communication methods and techniques.
- Responsibility VII, Competency C: Promote health education professionally and collectively.
April 9, 2020
Wow. I cannot believe it is my last day. Like I said, it is my last official internship day which is sad. The good news is that I will be able to continue working at the food bank next week and receive payment. I informed my superiors I would be more than happy to work without pay, but they insisted.
Online orders are continuing to add up, as more agencies are starting to use the new system. Bill and I also had a Zoom interview today at 1:00 P.M. We interviewed one of my classmates in Public Health for her Summer internship! I loved getting to talk to her about the job and what would be in store for her here. She would be a great fit! I am excited for her to start her journey here.
Assignments
- Fill online agency orders.
- Interview a Summer intern candidate with Bill Taylor.
Responsibilities and Competencies
- Responsibility I, Competency C: Distinguish between behaviors that foster and hinder well-being.
- Responsibility III, Competency A: Initiate a plan of action.
- Responsibility III, Competency B: Demonstrate a variety of skills in delivering strategies, interventions, and programs.
- Responsibility V, Competency A: Exercise organizational leadership.
- Responsibility V, Competency B: Manage human resources.
- Responsibility VII, Competency B: Apply a variety of communication methods and techniques.
- Responsibility VII, Competency C: Promote health education professionally and collectively.