Knowledge of a foreign language certainly isn’t required of YMOW volunteers. But that hasn’t stopped Rick Humesky from learning phrases in Spanish and Romanian as part of his role at YMOW.
When Rick learned that a client on his Monday route spoke Romanian, he took it upon himself to learn a few simple phrases with which to greet her.
“She lit up,” he said, before she quickly corrected his pronunciation.
Going the extra step is typical for Rick, a YMOW volunteer for the past three years and YMOW’s Volunteer of the Quarter.
“Rick comes in every Monday to ride along with one of our CCAs,” said Chris Brown, supportive services manager at YMOW. Mondays are particularly busy at YMOW. More than any other day of the week, staff relies on volunteers to help deliver meals, cat litter, and donations from Food Gatherers.
When an emergency left a volunteer unable to do their route on a recent Monday, it could have been a big deal, Chris said. But Rick quickly stepped in to take the route, even though he had never delivered meals alone.
Living just a block from YMOW and learning from his wife M.J. Dennison’s longtime involvement as a YMOW volunteer, Rick knew the needs of his community and wanted to do his part. He now looks forward to his shift every week.
“I get to interact with each client. That’s the best part,” said Rick, who takes time to speak to every person on his route, in whatever language they prefer. He sometimes helps with simple chores, such as taking out the trash or grabbing the day’s mail.
Whether it’s carrying cat litter or learning to greet someone in a new language, Rick said he knows every little thing he does as a YMOW volunteer makes a difference.
“It’s very gratifying,” he said.
