It is with an immense amount of joy, that I announce Tim Balmat is Second Helpings’ Volunteer of the Month for October 2021.
Tim is one of our amazing tilt volunteers. Every time I am with him, he brightens up my day – the love and joy he has for the mission of Second Helpings is evident in all he does. In fact, I use a quote from him when I am conducting a volunteer orientation. “I put love and care in every tilt that I make, just like I would if I was making it for my family at home!”
Thanks Tim for your time and talents. To give you an example of his amazing service, this is the amount of meals Tim has prepared: 517 hours service in a 2 ½ years! That is a lot of tilt meals!! (If I calculate correctly: about 2 tilts a shift x 110 shifts = 220 tilts. Multiply by an average of 450 meals per tilt = 99,000 meals!)
How did you become involved in Second Helpings?
I retired from Dean Foods in February of 2019 after 40 years of service in the dairy industry. My career included work in sales, marketing, and management. Soon after I retired, my neighbor Dan Bradford asked me to join him on Friday mornings at Second Helpings. I found the work can be hard but is so rewarding.
What types of things have you done since you began volunteering with us?
I have worked on the production side of the kitchen chopping vegetables, cutting protein, grinding meat, and running the buffalo chopper. The job I enjoy most is working on a tilt skillet. Every skillet recipe is unique, based on what ingredients are available. The best advice I was given cooking on the tilt skillet was to prepare the recipe like it was for my own family and make it taste wonderful. I try to follow those simple rules on every shift. Creativity is encouraged.
What have you liked best about volunteering with us?
Second Helpings has connected me with great people. The staff and other volunteers have become an extended family that I cherish. We support each other at work and away from Second Helpings. That has been apparent especially through the last 18 months. My wife Melanie also volunteers on Fridays, and we enjoy working together on the tilt skillets.
What are you most proud of accomplishing through your volunteer work here?
Through our collective efforts at Second Helpings thousands of people in our community are being nourished with food that otherwise would be dumped. Controlling and reducing food waste was a focus in my work at Dean’s. The wonderful food that we rescue and repurpose at Second Helpings takes this to another level. I am proud to be a small part of that success. I have been able to recruit three new volunteers and am always looking for more.
What do you do when you are not volunteering with us?
Melanie and I are enjoying retirement together. We ‘re blessed to have our three children and seven grandchildren in the Midwest. We spend as much time as possible with them. We want to travel and spend some winters away from the cold and snow.
Do you volunteer for any other organization?
I participate in the Music Ministry at our church as a member of the Adult Choir.
What would people be surprised to know about you?
While in college I was the “lead screamer” for a rock n’ roll band.