Delbert Rayburn, dedicated volunteer since 1997

Delbert Rayburn, dedicated volunteer since 1997

Delbert and Midge Rayburn (married in 1998) live in Pineville, Izard County, Arkansas and together served 506 volunteer hours in 2008 at the Food Bank of North Central Arkansas!

Delbert, a native from Indiana, retired in 1987 as service manager in a large truck dealership in Lafayette, Indiana.  He served as a volunteer for nine years at the Food Finders Food Bank in Lafayette. In September 1996, Delbert moved to Arkansas and began volunteering at the Food Bank of North Central Arkansas in April 1997.  He celebrated his 22nd year this week!

Midge, a native from Iowa, began volunteering in 1992 with the  Norfork Community Care Program as well as in the food bank’s warehouse.  For several years, until January 2009, Midge managed the food pantry and its volunteers. 

Since January 2009, Delbert (now 83) and Midge have been working together “decoding” unlabeled cans in the warehouse. Delbert was introduced to unlabeled cans during his nine years with Food Finders Food Bank…and he is truly the unlabeled can expert!  Unlabeled cans (also known as “brites”) must be identified and labeled before distribution. Armed with a magnifying glass and the manufacturer’s list of hundreds of codes and contents, Delbert and Midge tediously and tirelessly match the codes imprinted on each can with the master code list…one can at a time! The identified cans are then grouped by code in boxes to be labeled and distributed. Delbert and Midge also volunteer with the Calico Rock Community Care Program, an agency of the Food Bank of North Central Arkansas. When asked why he volunteers, Delbert replied, “I know that my day has been well spent if what I have done has prevented a child from going to bed hungry.”