7Everyday Hero John Beattie hits the road every week to help thousands of people. He is a volunteer driver for the Arvada Community Food Bank.
"We are estimating this year to give out about 1.2 million pounds of food," said Mark Stratford, Dir. of Food Programs, The Arvada Community Food Bank.
The food bank serves a 100-square mile area. That kind of reach requires more than 200 volunteers, like Beattie.
"I am basically a driver. So, I pick up produce on Wednesdays and from the Food Bank of the Rockies on Mondays," said Beattie.
Beattie often picks up food that grocery stores cannot sell, but is still perfectly good to eat.
"It is the right thing to do," said Beattie.
"John is phenomenal. He's been a driver here for two and half years," said Stratford.
Beattie puts in more than 30 hours a week hauling and sorting the food, so others can enjoy a healthy meal.
"In addition to that, he's a boy scout troop leader and so he's able to rally his troops together and do food drives for us and then organize the food when it's in house," said Stratford.
Beattie volunteers for other agencies, but it was his boy scouts who provided the inspiration to give back at the Arvada Community Food Bank.
"Years ago we had any number of Eagle Scouts who did a project for the food bank, collecting food in the neighborhoods," said Beattie.
"I think volunteering is just the right thing to do," added Beattie.
To learn more about the Arvada Community Food Bank go to www.arvadacfb.org.
Mitch Jelniker anchors 7NEWS Now in the mornings from 4:30 to 7 a.m. He also features a different 7Everyday Hero each week on 7NEWS. Follow Mitch on Facebook and Twitter. Nominate a 7Everyday Hero here.
