A Second Helpings story problem:  A hardworking tilt operator can typically produce two tilts per 4-hour shift that yield approximately 600 meals per batch. If he has volunteered for 29 single shifts and 29 double shifts in the Hunger Relief Kitchen, how many tilts has he prepared and how many meals has he made for our community?

The astounding answers? He has made approximately 174 tilts totaling 104,400 meals!

Pretty sure that volunteer John Todd can appreciate this story problem because HE is the superhero who has been faithfully manning a tilt skillet on Tuesdays since he first came to Second Helpings in July of 2019.  John, who retired from the Indiana Department of Education earlier that year, had worked with the USDA Child Nutrition programs for 42 years and became aware of Second Helping’s mission after working directly with Jennifer Vigran and other staff for the last decade. He found his way to our kitchen after retirement, picked up a tilt paddle and started mixing delicious meals for our partner agencies while enjoying the camaraderie with both staff and volunteers along the way.

Whether it is browning meat, cooking rice or pasta, or combining it all to make tasty casseroles, John says he is proud to be serving Central Indiana residents who are in need and notes that it has become more important during the pandemic, which has increased the need for nutritional assistance and put stress on existing organizations who are attempting to meet that need. In addition to his Tuesday shift at Second Helpings, John also cooks two mornings a week at Cathedral Kitchen, a ministry of Saints Peter & Paul Cathedral and also a Second Helping partner agency which receives some of the very meals that John prepares in our kitchen. What’s even more amazing? John says that even though he had to wait for 44 years, he can’t believe the fun he is having in retirement – even during a global pandemic!

When he is not preparing meals for our community, John enjoys gardening, reading, music and woodworking. John also serves on the church council and is a trained Stephen Minister at his local parish, Bethlehem Lutheran (ELCA), where he and his wife Bev have attended for more than 40 years.

We are so thankful for you, John, and hope we’ll see you mixing up meals in our kitchen for a long time to come!