130: Malik Blount

Food Distribution, Helping Harvest Food Bank

Malik has two children. The children’s mother is a CNA Nurse, who worked full time straight through the pandemic. He says she is, “A very strong woman.”

When the pandemic hit, Malik was looking for work. A few months into it, he was doing some volunteer work at Helping Harvest Food Bank, the largest food bank in the Berks and Schuylkill County area. His hard work was recognized. They asked him if he’d like to stay on and work full time. He took the job and started the next day.

So, in the midst of the pandemic, a time when food distribution was at an all time high, he took on the role of preparing food shipments to go out: packaging, tagging, setting up for delivery, etc. This was for churches, organizations, and individuals. “I was amazed at how many people we were helping,” he said. 

About Helping Harvest he added, “They did a really good job of taking care of their employees.” They supplied us with all the safety and sanitation gear we needed. This was comforting for him, because his big concern was to not bring the virus home with him. He did not. He and his family did not contract it.

Since starting this new position, he now has also learned the receiving portion of the business. So, he now assists with food coming in and going out. He seems to thoroughly enjoy the job and how it helps others. This time has made him realize how special contact with friends and family is.