Jane Garofalo – Medfield Foundation Youth Volunteer of the Year Award

Jane Garofalo – Youth Volunteer of the Year Award — Medfield Food Cupboard

For the past two years, Medfield High School junior Jane Garofalo has been volunteering weekly at the Medfield Food Cupboard, and as part of her work, she created a “Blue Bag-it Program” to increase summer donations, according to Beth Eby, Medfield Food Cupboard president, who endorsed Jane’s nomination for the Youth Volunteer of the Year award.

“Jane became aware of the severe decrease in donations over the summer months, and came up with a fantastic and yet simple program idea, and implemented it at Shaw’s,” said Eby.

“Through the program, shoppers are presented with a special blue bag, and a list of the items that the Medfield Food Cupboard needs for that month,” Eby explained. “To get the program off the ground, Jane applied for a New ‘N Towne grant to fund the purchase of blue bags and produce flyers, and recruited student volunteers to staff a weekend table at Shaw’s to promote the initiative during the summer months. Jane’s efforts were appreciated by customers because the blue bag provided them with an easy way to separate their own personal items from Medfield Food Cupboard needs.”

Eby pointed out that on the first day of the campaign, and each time thereafter, the food donation bin was overflowing with colorful blue bags in a matter of hours.

Since its introduction, Eby says the Blue Bag-it Program has gained traction and garnered media attention, and Garofalo has received approval to make it a permanent Medfield Shaw’s initiative that has the potential to be replicated at other stores.

“From a young age, Jane has demonstrated a sincere compassion for children who are less fortunate, and without food or money to satisfy basic needs,” said her mother, Patti Garofalo.  “I believe this empathy for others inspired her to look for a way to make things better for members of her own community struggling with these same issues.”