A Heart for Volunteering
Ethel Aniello is 83 years young and has a heart for volunteering. She has given part of that heart to the South Plains Food Bank for almost 10 years. Originally from Hartford, Connecticut; Ethel moved to Lubbock with her husband in 1990 so he could be close to his grandkids. The couple spent two years here together before he passed away, leaving Ethel with new roots planted and lots of time on her hands.
The Canyon Methodist Church member quickly found volunteer work to occupy her days. You will find Ethel manning the South Plains Food Bank’s front office desk and phones every Friday morning. But that is just about the only time you will see Ethel sitting still.
“She doesn’t let any grass grow under her feet,” said South Plains Food Bank Administrator Brenda Hayes. “She doesn’t like it when things come up and she has to sit still for a while. She doesn’t do that very well!”
But Ethel, who has been a long-time VFW Auxiliary member of a post back home, does have a special project which keeps her still for a little while. Ethel takes squares, crocheted from a group of ladies, and she crochets the squares together as well as the border to make beautiful blankets, according to Brenda. Although they are not given to everyone, the South Plains Food Bank staff has found they come in handy.
“At Christmas a family drove from Olton to get a food box,” Brenda said recalling a recent story about the blessings of the blankets. “They had two children with them and their heater in their car wasn’t working. We were able to give them a few of the blankets to help them keep warm.”
For Ethel, who also volunteers Mondays at a local hospital visiting patients, sitting at home is not something she does much of in her spare time. Instead, she heads to the Food Bank to put in a few more hours.
“Sometimes when I don’t feel like staying home, I come up here and help Lupe in the sorting room or on the dry box table,” Said Ethel between answering phones and helping clients. “I also really like helping with the Can-Can (food drive) and the Stuff-the-Bus (school supply drive) in the summer.”
Although you will find Ethel - an avid baker - all over the warehouse, chipping in where ever help is needed, she holds a special place for the Food Bank on Friday mornings. For many of our clients, she is the first face of the South Plains Food Bank that they see when they come to redeem their food voucher for a food box. She knows several of our clients by name and is quick to ask about their families and how things are going for them.
According to Ethel, she enjoys all of her volunteer work, but holds a special place for the staff at the South Plains Food Bank.
"The staff members are wonderful," Ethel said while stamping a client's food box ticket. "I like working with everyone. And it's easy to work somewhere when you like the people you are working with."
Volunteer Coordinator Meagan Bratton said Ethel is someone she knows she can rely on when she needs something done.
“If I need someone to fill in at the desk or someone needs to switch days, Ethel always comes to mind,” said Meagan. “She is always so willing to help. And she has people that look forward to seeing her on Fridays when they come in for the food boxes. Ethel’s great!”
Contact Meagan Bratton at 806-763-3003 for more information about volunteering with the South Plains Food Bank.
The South Plains Food Bank, Inc. is committed to alleviating hunger 
and giving hope to the hungry. We are a humanitarian resource responsible for securing, growing, processing, and distributing food to charitable organizations and persons in need.
