Brad S.
Meet Brad
Recovering from a physical injury, Brad applied himself to make up food hampers for the last year and has become an invaluable part of our team. He wanted to “bring something to the table” for his community and he brought the best thing - himself.
Brad Siemens first got involved with the London Food bank (LFB) about a year ago as a way of helping out the cause. Recovering from an injury, he’s done light work including sorting food supplies and, due to COVID-19, putting food hampers outside on tables for client pick-up.
Brad has a background in construction and says that although volunteering is primary for him; he personally likes dealing with people he wouldn’t normally meet. He also has a better appreciation from seeing things through the eyes of the clients – an experience he finds very satisfactory.
He also respects how the Food Bank contributes to the stability of our society – “helping a generous community share its food resources.” As he says, when you have happy and purposeful people they don’t feel the need to turn to drugs. However, at its worst, drugs can often act as an escape – leading to drug addiction and criminal involvement (a vicious circle.)
He figures that 95% of the Food Bank’s clientele are there because they have genuine needs: looking for a temporary hand up, not a hand out. They suffer because of situations that are beyond their control: inflation, being displaced, unable to get affordable housing or a place to call their own with stable employment.
He also reaffirms, like so many other volunteers, that it all starts at the top with Co-Executive Director Jane Roy and her very positive hands-on team at the Food Bank – an complimentary role to her Co-Executive Director husband, Glen Pearson, and his related activities.
Brad has a favourite song to offer for this interview: Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony
(which includes “Ode to Joy”) He believes it’s considered to be the greatest music ever written.
And, with just one click of the enclose link, it’s hard to disagree. It’s a wonderful celebration of life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxLbmnvMWM0
Also, when you click in, you’ll see a ‘flash mob’ in action. In this case it starts in a small European town within one of those lovely village squares… a little girl putting a contribution into a ‘street’ musician’s hat. And, by the time it’s all done there’s a full orchestra, with choir, joined by what seems to be hundreds of ordinary folks who are smiling as they sing along.
In 1985 the European Union declared “Ode to Joy” it’s official anthem: stating the music, “… conveys the same ideas of freedom, peace, and unity… the triumph of universal brotherhood against war and desperation.’ Beethoven adopted the lyrics by German poet, Frederick Schiller.
“Oh friends, no more sounds!
Let us sing more cheerful songs, More songs of joy!” – Ode to Joy
Bringing it back home, Brad says he plays just a small role with his volunteering. But as we’ve seen with other Food Bank volunteers, everyone brings something to the table. Working together makes all the difference. We’re like pearls on a string stretching back some 35 years where we celebrate the power of one… even two hearts beating as one.
Thanks again Brad… for your unique and much appreciated contribution!
