Volunteering at the Food Bank

The scene opens in the busy warehouse of a food bank. Boxes are stacked everywhere. The air is filled with a sense of purpose. Carla enters, looking a bit nervous.

CARLA: Hi. I'm here to volunteer. My name is Carla. It's my first time.

DAVID: Welcome, Carla! I'm David. We're so happy to have you. Don't worry, everyone here started as a beginner. This is Samira. She's new, too.

SAMIRA: Hi! I'm trying to figure out which box these apples go in.

DAVID: So, we sort the food by type: grains, vegetables, canned goods, and so on. These apples go in the fresh produce box. The sign on the box says "Produce."

CARLA: So, this bag of rice goes in the "Grains" box?

DAVID: Exactly! You got it. It's really simple once you get the hang of it. The most important thing is to check the expiration dates on everything. We can only give out food that is not expired.

SAMIRA: Oh, I didn't think about that. My professor told me that volunteering would teach me new things, but I thought it would just be about helping people.

DAVID: It is, but helping people means doing things carefully and correctly. We want to make sure the families who get this food are safe. It's an important **responsibility**.

CARLA: That makes a lot of sense. My company encourages us to volunteer, but I chose to do this because I wanted to feel more connected to my community. I've been feeling a little lonely since I moved here.

SAMIRA: Me too! I've been so busy with my studies that I haven't met many people outside of my classes. It's nice to feel like I’m part of something bigger.

DAVID: That’s a big reason many people volunteer. It's a way to give back and also to find a place for yourself. It's a win-win.

(Suddenly, David’s phone rings. He answers it, listens for a moment, and then hangs up.)

DAVID: Bad news. Our truck is delayed, but we have a big group of people arriving in an hour. We're going to have to work a little faster to get these boxes ready.

CARLA: We can do it! I'm good at organizing. Let’s make a plan.

SAMIRA: I’m ready! Just tell us what to do, David.

DAVID: Okay, teamwork! Carla, you check the dates. Samira, you sort the items. I'll get the boxes ready. Let's go!

(The three of them get to work with a renewed sense of energy, laughing and talking as they move boxes and sort food. They work as a team, united by their shared purpose.)

(End of Scene)

Vocabulary List

Volunteer 🔊 /ˌvɒl.ənˈtɪər/ (v.): To work for an organization without being paid. Example: He decided to volunteer at the local food bank.
Food bank 🔊 /fuːd bæŋk/ (n.): A place where food is collected and given to people who need it. Example: The food bank provides meals for many families.
Coordinator 🔊 /koʊˈɔːr.dɪ.neɪ.tər/ (n.): A person who organizes and manages an activity. Example: The volunteer coordinator showed us what to do.
Grains 🔊 /ɡreɪnz/ (n.): Small, hard seeds of plants like wheat, rice, or corn. Example: We put the rice and pasta in the grains box.
Expiration date 🔊 /ˌek.spəˈreɪ.ʃən deɪt/ (n.): The date after which a food product should not be eaten. Example: Always check the expiration date on the milk.
Responsibility 🔊 /rɪˌspɒn.səˈbɪl.ə.ti/ (n.): A duty or task you are required to do. Example: It's my responsibility to take care of the dogs.
Give back 🔊 /ɡɪv bæk/ (phrasal verb): To do something good for your community or for other people. Example: She volunteers because she wants to give back to her community.
Win-win 🔊 /wɪn wɪn/ (idiom): A situation where all people involved benefit. Example: Volunteering is a win-win because you help others and meet new people.

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Vocabulary List