Column: Food bank volunteer … how hard could it be?

It’s hard for a reason — feeding destitute people.

There’s the food, first of all, which by definition is — how shall we say this politely? — well, it’s challenged. Not always but typically it’s food nearing an expiration or randomly donated or not wanted for some reason.

But like a misfit toy, it’s certainly wanted at the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County.

The majority of its food is donated by restaurants, grocery stores, food manufacturers, growers, packers, corporations, individuals and other groups. They also have an active garden called the “Incredible Edible Farm.”

Despite the ongoing support, however, it’s summer. Few people think about food banks or hunger in the summer. There are so many other things to do.

Who wants to spend a hot summer afternoon in an Irvine warehouse sorting through 11,000 pounds of potatoes?

Um … me.

Like any day, there were a couple dozen volunteers. Some were from local companies; others were just doing it for the cause. Newbies, like me, thought it would be interesting and fun.

So, yeah, it was interesting.

You start out all eager and noble, listening to the professional and friendly staff giving instructions.

Once you get to your station and don your gloves, you still have hope.

It can’t be that hard, you think.

About 90 minutes later when you get your first break and you’re covered in what everyone agreed was best described as “potato snot,” the altruism of volunteering is wearing thin.

But after some cold water, free snacks and liberal amounts of hand sanitizer spread over your body, the last 90 minutes go by faster than the first.

And the mound of potatoes and sweet potatoes is gone — sorted, repackaged and ready for shipment.

Will I eat yams at Thanksgiving? I don’t know. Maybe by then the smell will be gone.

The expression on everyone’s faces was classic, by the way. All happy and shiny in the beginning but somewhere in the middle, the joy was replaced with scowls and mild defeat.

Even the staff admitted it was a tough job. There’s no sugar coating a rotten sweet potato.

But you know what, I think that’s the point. Life is hard sometimes. If you can make it a little easier for someone who needs it, then why not?

The Second Harvest Food Bank needs this kind of ongoing volunteer work so it can feed more than 200,000 hungry people in Orange County every month.

Even though there were 24,000 volunteers last year, most of those came during the holidays, which is nice, but they need steady support. If you’d like to help, visit feedoc.org.

And it’s not all potato hell.

There are other things you can do, such as harvesting produce on the farm or working with canned goods. There are also administrative, community and special event volunteer opportunities.

Even kids can help. At Izzy’s Corner, children ages 7 to 13 can sort and package produce that goes out to various distribution sites to feed hungry children and their families.

Clearly, the need is great and relentless, even in affluent Orange County. The facts are startling.

According to the Second Harvest Food Bank:

There are more than 315,000 people in the O.C. who are at risk of hunger each month.

One in six children in our community is at risk of hunger.

Nearly half of all public school children rely on reduced or free school lunches for their major source of nutrition in Orange County. That’s 129,000 kids.

About 45% of Orange County seniors don’t have enough money for their basic necessities, like food, rent and medications, according to the Elder Economic Security Index.

Finally, there’s simply not enough food year-round. According to a recent “Report on Charitable Food Distribution,” commissioned by Feeding America and Second Harvest Food Bank, nearly 20% of food programs have to turn people away “frequently” or “occasionally” because they run out of food.

If you go to the Second Harvest Food Bank to volunteer, at first you may think you’re in the night shift of a half-stocked Costco. There are piles of creamed corn, pasta and mystery meats. Pallets are everywhere. The forklifts are like restless ants, moving food around in a precious yet frantic way.

You have to stay within the yellow lines, a walking path that keeps you safe.

When the forklift driver rolls past, you will see the back of his T-shirt: “I help hunger in Orange County.”

Somewhere is a loud boom box settled on K-EARTH 101, which means Journey, Aerosmith and Madonna.

In a weird kind of way, it’s music that makes you feel universal.

It helps you think outside of yourself for just a couple of hours — in a don’t stop believin’ kind of way.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County is at 8014 Marine Way, Irvine. For more information, call (949) 653-2900.

DAVID HANSEN is a writer and Laguna Beach resident. He can be reached at hansen.dave@gmail.com.