A 62-year-old man is seeing an outpouring of support online after he took to Reddit to share his experience volunteering at a food bank in Washington.
Posted by Reddit user Michaeljdigitalnomad, Michael spoke openly and honestly about what the volunteer work did for him on a personal level and how much it’s changed him into a better person.
He admitted it was especially impactful for him right now, given the state of the U.S.: “The world, especially the U.S., often feels hostile and divided right now, and it’s hard to feel optimistic. Working alongside these people has helped change that.”
Michael highlighted the hard work he witnessed at the food bank, from the volunteers to the drivers, despite many being between 50 and 70 and dealing with “aching backs, throbbing knees, hip replacements, and arthritis.”
More importantly, he was particularly ‘moved’ by how volunteers treated people coming in for food like family and friends. Volunteers were deeply mindful of people’s needs, like giving “extra food” to those who weren’t eating enough or handing out food that didn’t require a kitchen.
“They also treat every one of them with the same dignity and respect,” Michael wrote on Reddit. But the lesson Michael internalized the most from his experience was that “most people are fundamentally good.”
Goodwill and support flourish on Michael’s Reddit post
Michael’s Reddit post blew up with thousands of upvotes and 100 comments and counting, many of them giving him props. “So glad to hear that! What a great group of humans, yourself included,” wrote one Redditor.
One Reddit user wrote that Michael’s post made them “tear up” because they were suffering from their own “life circumstances.” OP shared that they went to college, but have to “live off savings” and are nearing homelessness. “I’m not ready yet to go to a food bank. But thanks for posting this.”
Michael responded to the Reddit user, sympathizing with them. He then encouraged them to seek a food bank because someone’s bad circumstances are “exactly” why food banks exist. Most importantly, he made it known that volunteers understand why people are there and that “there’s no shame in needing a food bank…”
Another Reddit user was on to Michael and joked about his true identity: “So that’s where Michael from The Good Place ended up. Hope you’re takin’ it sleazy!”
One Redditor tried to downplay Michael’s community service, insisting that “feeding the poor is only going to help them put more money into the hands of billionaires,” to which Michael fired back, writing that their absence from volunteer work wasn’t “much of a loss.”
Michael’s Reddit post attracted overwhelmingly positive support, with many commenters thanking him for volunteering. Others said his experience reminded everyone that anyone could someday need help from a food bank.
