At Food For Free, volunteers are the hands and feet of our mission. We are grateful for the efforts that each of our volunteers makes to help us bring good food to where it’s needed most.
Today, we put Healthy Eats volunteer Ryan Doyon under the spotlight to hear more about his life and why he chooses to make volunteering at Food For Free a part of it.
Ryan recently saved the day for our Healthy Eats program when a volunteer truck driver assistant couldn’t make it to their shift last minute. When Ryan, who was already at a box-packing volunteer shift, heard what was happening, he raised his hand to help out with deliveries as well. That day, homebound seniors in Cambridge received two weeks’ worth of groceries packed and delivered right to their doors by Ryan’s helpful hands. What a guy!
And did we mention that he’s a DJ on 91.5 FM WMFO in Medford?
Let’s hear from Ryan directly:
Tell us something about yourself!
I live in Cambridge with my wife (and fellow FFF volunteer) Alicia and our orange tabby cat named Handsome Pants. I work for a company in Medford called ROI Solutions which provides technology services to non-profit organizations all over the country. Besides my volunteer work I love to travel the world with my wife, as well as create and run my very own weekly radio show which airs every Friday morning from 7-9am on 91.5 FM WMFO. Fun fact, Food For Free’s very own Simon is one of my biggest fans.
What is your favorite Food For Free volunteer shift?
My regular/preferred Food For Free shift is Healthy Eats box packing on the weekends. I enjoy both Saturday and Sunday shifts but the Sunday shift is most likely when my wonderful fellow volunteer Cindy is going to be there, and she makes the most amazing baked goods for all of us!
What motivated you to volunteer with Food For Free?
My wife first volunteered back in November 2020 when it was in a basement at Inman Street. Her experience led me to want to tag along and see what it was all about. After my first shift I knew I was going to be a long term volunteer.
What is a big highlight or fond memory you have of volunteering with us?
I have to say it was those days in the basement that really solidified my fondness for the organization. We were all masked up and had to stand apart from each other but still managed to forge friendships with everyone involved through our hard work and determination to get the work finished for the greater good. What is so great is that I still volunteer with many of those awesome people at the Somerville location.
What quote summarizes your experience volunteering at Food For Free?
The Food For Free organization is wonderful and the volunteers and staff who work there are all so just so amazing. It really is something special to be able to spend time on the weekends doing great work that helps so many people in our community.
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Thank you, Ryan (and Alicia), for your dedication to supporting the Food For Free mission! Want to help out, too? Register to volunteer with us: https://foodforfree.org/volunteer/.
