Job loss doesn't mean loss of service

John Krok isn't one to be idle.

When a plant closed and he lost his job, Mr. Krok needed to fill that void.

"I got laid off in June of 2007, and after that I tried to find a job in the field where I have worked most of my life -- quality control and quality assurance," he said. "I looked in ads, applied through agencies and even got a few interviews, but was never hired."

Despite an unsuccessful job search, he was determined to find something to do. He found it a year ago at the Faith Food Factory, the Golden Harvest Food Bank's warehouse.

"I had to do something to occupy my time," said Mr. Krok, who is now retired. "I called over here one day and talked to the person who was the volunteer coordinator. When I came over, she showed me around and explained what they did here.

"I thought to myself, 'This would be great.' I felt this was where I wanted to be. So I started volunteering as soon as I could."

For a year, Mr. Krok has volunteered Monday through Thursday, four hours a day. His tasks include packing and labeling boxes for distribution and sorting through donations.

"I'm here so much they don't have to tell me what to do anymore," he said. "I just come in here, figure out what needs to be done and go at it from the time that I get here to the time that I leave."

His work ethic helps to get a lot done in the warehouse, said Larry Jenkins, the manager of the Faith Food Factory.

"He works hard all the time and is very detail oriented, which is very important in what we do," he said. "I don't have to worry about whether he knows what to do or if he's doing it right. He is persistent and consistent in getting every task accomplished right the first time."

Mr. Krok said that he doesn't plan to stop volunteering anytime soon.

"I look forward to each day and enjoy the different people I met," he said. "As long as I'm physically able to, I will be here."

Reach Nikasha Dicks at (706) 823-3336 or nikasha.dicks@augustachronicle.com.