Keith, a retiree from the hotel business with an impressive 43-year career, has a youthful energy that makes him appear a decade younger. After retiring, Keith decided to channel his passion for community involvement into volunteering. Since then, he has become an invaluable asset to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida family.
Keith’s journey as a volunteer began with a simple act of kindness during Christmas. Instead of exchanging gifts, his family decided to donate money and volunteer at Second Harvest Food Bank. With their contribution, the Wollings helped provide over 4,000 meals to their neighbors facing hunger. The following year, Hurricane Ian truly ignited Keith’s commitment to the cause. He realized that monetary donations alone weren’t enough; he wanted to make a hands-on difference. Ever since then, he has dedicated his time and effort to volunteering weekly at Second Harvest.
Keith enjoys rotating through different tasks. One of his favorites is organizing the meals at the end of the assembly line at Mercy Kitchen, which provides him with an opportunity to see the finished product and the communities where all the meals are being distributed to the next day. When he was assigned this responsibility, he excitedly shared the news with his wife, proclaiming, “I got promoted today!”
Volunteering at Second Harvest has deeply impacted Keith personally and broadened his perspective on the issue of hunger. “You don’t realize what the needs are every day,” says Keith. Knowing that one in five Central Florida kids is at risk of going to bed hungry, he is more determined than ever, to volunteer as frequently as possible.
Wearing his Second Harvest shirt with pride, he takes every opportunity to inform people about the organization and its vital mission. He wants everyone to recognize the impact they can make in just one volunteer shift.
Keith’s commitment to volunteering at Second Harvest showcases the incredible impact a dedicated individual can have on the fight against hunger. His story is a reminder that a single act of kindness can create a ripple effect of positive change across our community.
