Audra’s First Serving Session Experience – 2026

Today, I had a wonderful opportunity to volunteer at a Wednesday serving session. For anyone who is unfamiliar with Yad Ezra’s serving sessions, we serve clients Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday. Each client can create their grocery order based on a set list once a month. I talked about the point system a little bit in my last blog post, but a certain number of points are given to individuals based on their family size. From there, they can distribute those points however they want across our grocery list to select the items they would like. Since we are striving to implement more sustainable practices into the organization and beyond, I appreciated how clients were rewarded with extra points if they brought back their blue reusable bags. When clients first join our serving session program, they are given reusable blue bags. Each month they come in for their grocery order; they can bring the blue bags back, earning more points towards their grocery items. Now that I have touched on the foundation of the sessions, I would love to talk about my first impressions and what I enjoyed!

One thing that immediately stood out to me was the sense of community within Yad Ezra. While observing the4 session, it was clear that many of the clients had built relationships with the volunteers and staff. Seeing familiar faces or even just exchanging a small conversation is a small, but powerful reminder of why organizations like this matter. It is not just about the groceries, but making our clients feel valued and supported.

I really admired how organized everything was. Each volunteer had a set place to ensure the operation ran smoothly. I was fortunate enough to work on one of the check-in computers, which I hear is a highly competitive placement among the volunteers! While I was in the check-in area, I saw the area where the clients walked in, as well as the room for the volunteer waiting room, where they waited for me or one of the other check-in volunteers to hand them a client’s bags and grocery list to go “shop” for them. When the clients first arrived, they were greeted by the wonderful staff and volunteers working at the serving session, giving clients a very positive and friendly experience right from the start. While they waited for their points to be confirmed, they were allowed to select a free loaf of bread as well as some seeds to grow herbs and vegetables if they wished. After that, one of the volunteers directed them to the check-in area. Once there, I confirmed their arrival and gave them the necessary information they would need for their next visit. As mentioned earlier, I then handed a volunteer the client’s shopping list and reusable bags. To make it easy for the clients, they wrote down their parking spot on their list, and someone brought their groceries out to their car for them.

Volunteering at the serving session also gave me a new perspective on food insecurity in our community. It is easy to go about our daily life without realizing how many families nearby are navigating these challenges. Being present and playing a small role in making someone’s day easier is incredibly meaningful to me. I left the serving session with a greater appreciation for the work Yad Ezra does.

Overall, my first impression of the serving session was very positive. I enjoyed meeting such a warm and diverse group of clients and volunteers. Our goal is to provide our clients with a seamless and pleasant experience during their visit, and I enjoyed seeing this in action. It is also incredible to see how dedicated the volunteers are to giving back to the community. In the future, I would be more than happy to volunteer at a serving session again – I might even bring my family along!