Never too young, never too old to volunteer!
After years in the grocery business and then retirement, Mr. Stanley Katz quips that he needed to find work to help ends meet, so he took a job as a volunteer – then he flashes his smile and gives a wink. Those that know Stanley will say he has a quick wit and a big heart.
Mr. Katz uses his past business knowledge and connections to negotiate the purchase of whole fryer chickens for Passover deliveries, this year securing 100 chickens for the Food Pantry. He is active in ROMEO (Retired Old Men Eating Out), and spreads the word about JFS wherever he goes. ROMEO collected 162 pounds of food at a recent meeting, and Stanley is certain his group can do more!
Mr. Katz has lived in the Kansas City area his entire life, and is married to Marlene Katz.
Daniel’s love for helping people started when he saw his mother volunteer at the food pantry and he wanted to be a part of it. He said he felt left out, and wanted to help people too. Shortly thereafter he told his grandmother, “Nana, I need you to help me pack food for the people at JFS.” Daniel also made it clear he wanted to give money that he set aside each month.
A kindergartner from the greater KC metro, Daniel hand-delivers his coins and groceries to JFS, often with a drawing for Ms. Rachel, Development Director or Ms. Cindy, Office Manager. He is quick to weigh his food donation on the pantry scale, then he gets to work putting items on the shelves – toothpaste here, cereal there.
His mom says it brings him such joy and pleasure to know he is helping people in our community who really need it. She says, “I always explain to him that any one of us could be in that same position of need. It’s a beautiful thing as a mother to watch your own child take initiative to do everything in their power to help those less fortunate.”
As for their meeting at the pantry, Daniel thought Mr. Katz was very funny. He even learned a few new tricks and jokes!