Volunteer of the Month: Judith Selby!
So tell me, how did you get started with Food Forward?
When my boys were in high school, our family started a backyard harvest group in the San Gabriel Valley called Fruit For All; with the help of our friends, we picked 100,000 pounds in our first 2 1/2 years. The boys and their friends were my workforce, so when they went off to college, we hitched our wagon to Food Forward. It was a perfect match; we both had the same goals, and Food Forward was able to give me the volunteers and support I needed to keep picking fruit for all of the Fruit For All families. Today, we’re building the San Gabriel Valley branch of Food Forward.
What are some other projects you’re working on that you’d like to share?
When I’m not picking fruit, I’m probably in my own garden, tending my trees and harvesting my own fruit. A couple of years ago, I jumped on the save-every-drop-of-water bandwagon, including a catchment system for the water that runs off of my driveway. Now, if it would only rain so I can test my system! I truly believe every person can make a difference if they stop and think about their actions.
What is your favorite memory working with Food Forward?
I can’t think of a favorite memory, but I can tell you that I look forward to each pick, waiting to meet a new friend or welcome an old friend. It’s a wonderful feeling to build a community.
Any wisdom you’d like to share with the world about life?
Everything looks better with Christmas lights. We can recreate the world each day by how we act in it. We can dress it up or we can dress it down. Optimism or pessimism, we choose. So, put on the lights.