A Shawnee High School senior has received a national award for his community service.
Eligibility for the Presidents Volunteer Service Award means working for an eligible charitable organization for a certain number of documented hours.
“I was awarded the gold level of the award because I volunteered over 250 hours in one year,” said Matt O’Rorke, a Shawnee High School senior.
According to a release about O’Rorke’s award, the national award, presented through The President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, was established in 2003 to honor Americans who inspire others to engage in volunteer service. The award recognizes citizens who have volunteered in excess of 250 documented hours per year to specific charitable organizations.
The program continues as an initiative of the Corporation for National and Community Service to encourage sustained commitment to civic participation and to inspire others to make service a central part of their lives.
The award came as a surprise to O’Rorke, whose mom, Karen, broke the news after finding out from one of O’Rorke’s co-workers at the Food Bank of South Jersey.
O’Rorke has been spending his time at the food bank, assisting the needy all year round.
“It’s pretty cool to be recognized for trying to help people who need food, but I would think most people would try to do the same thing if they had the opportunity to help,” he said. “I knew how many local people are in need of basic things, especially in tough economic times. The most important thing to me is that hungry people in this area are getting food.”
The food bank operates out of Pennsauken in Camden County.
According to the website, The Food Bank of South Jersey is the largest source of government and non-government food assistance in South Jersey. The food bank is the only major agency in South Jersey whose mission is to eliminate hunger and malnutrition by ensuring surplus food reaches people in need. Its centralized food donation and distribution system is a vital community link ensuring that low-income and disadvantaged residents can access free groceries and wholesome meals from a charitable food provider in their neighborhood.
O’Rorke began his work there six years ago when he needed to accrue community service hours for his confirmation at church.
The first collection was successful enough to maintain his interest in helping the organization.
“The food bank is a great place to volunteer,” said O’Rorke. “Besides the food collection drives, I have worked at the food bank sorting donations and dividing food into categories for distribution.” O’Rorke makes sure the food being donated is not past its expiration date.
Each of O’Rorke’s collections resulted in hundreds of pounds of food per day, per food drive. He has collected thousands of pounds of food for those in need.
To further his efforts, O’Rorke holds neighborhood food drives throughout the year.
“I also have had food drives for the Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Center and hope to have a drive for them before I leave for college. That’s a great organization to help, too,” said O’Rorke.
Currently, he is gearing up for this year’s project involving the Medford Township School District, the Medford Students’ March Against Hunger.
“I think last year there were seven schools that participated. Each school drive takes place over a four-day period throughout the month of March,” said O’Rorke.
O’Rorke will begin sending notices out to the schools in late February. The schools will have a set time during the month of March to donate food.
“The people of Medford are usually pretty generous and have donated thousands of pounds of food. I am hoping this years’ food drive will be even more successful,” he said.
O’Rorke’s numerous hours of volunteerism have helped inspire his future college major.
“I am planning to be a business major in college. The food collection drives involve a lot of organization, planning and dealing with people. There are definitely aspects of the food drives that will benefit me in my college and business career,” he said, adding a sports management minor would be of interest to him to further his opportunities for a career.
He is also involved at school. O’Rorke is a member of the National Honor Society, senior captain of the Shawnee cross country team, and a member of the Shawnee Leadership Academy.
So far, he has applied to Rutgers University, Penn State University, James Madison University, and Loyola.
For more information on the Food Bank of South Jersey, visit www.foodbanksj.org.
