Feeding America, Building Family

West Shore Urology Families Join to Meet a Need

Earlier this year, the staff and physicians at West Shore Urology (WSU) were invited to host a Feeding America Mobile Food Pantry for our community. Having heard great things about the Feeding America program, it didn’t take long for us to join together, as an office, to raise the money required to purchase the mobile pantry.

On a cold day in January, we gathered together with our families to distribute food. In the process, we not only learned some things about hunger in our community, we also learned some things about ourselves.

Distributing Food and Building Family in Muskegon

Excitement in the air as a large crowd gathered in anticipation of the arrival of the pantry.

When the truck arrived, the food was unloaded and organized onto tables.

Over the next couple of hours, approximately 10,000 pounds of food was distributed to community members in need.

“This is the community I grew up in, and to be able to help in such a small way was a gift to me. To see the people, and the joy that it brought to them and their families, makes me want to be more involved with our community!” – Ericka

4 Photo Credits above: David Matuzeski, Riversedge Photography, Muskegon

Working Side By Side with Family

Many in our office who participated brought their children along to help. Parents and children, in the process of distributing the food items, had the opportunity to work together, side by side, outside of the home.

 “It was a good thing for my children to see that they can help lots of people just by doing little things like the food truck.” – Jennifer

Joining a New Family

Perhaps, in the end, the experience was best summed up by Danielle Shaholli, our newest physician assistant:

“Initially, when I signed up to help with the Food Truck Challenge, I expected to help the less fortunate, feed the hungry, and do a good deed for the community. What I gained from the experience is what really surprised me. Being a relatively new member to the Muskegon and West Shore Urology community, I found something that day that I did not expect – I discovered my community, my WSU community.

I was touched by how a group of people, some of whom may be struggling themselves, came together to help others. I got to know spouses, sons, daughters – an opportunity I may not have had otherwise.

Our small community came together to help one another. That day, we strengthened our relationships, worked side by side in a different environment, and gained the satisfaction of doing something bigger than ourselves.

Starting over in a new place is difficult. One wants to find a place to belong. That day, I felt like part of community and learned what real community is. To me, a community is coming together, learning about others, helping one another.”

I think, that day, we not only gained the satisfaction of helping the less fortunate, but we gained a closeness to our other family. I am proud to be part of this community. – Danielle

Dr. Brian Stork, Danielle Shaholli, and Lisa Thurman of West Shore Urology Feeding America in Muskegon, Michigan.