- November 23, 2024
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In 2011, Paul Tibbetts and his wife found themselves in a critical financial situation.
They had both lost their jobs. They were suddenly raising two of their granddaughters. They had just moved to Ormond Beach for a new start. They were running short on food.
A friend of his wife told them to call the Jewish Federation.
"I felt like somebody threw us a lifeline," Tibbetts said. "We really were in dire straits at the time. Literally, food was running out, had two young mouths to feed and it was just a matter of trying to get on our feet again."
When they were being interviewed at the Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler Counties, a necessary step to acquire aid from the nonprofit's Jerry Doliner Food Bank, his wife mentioned Tibbetts previously worked in pest control. The Jewish Federation needed some help in that regard, Tibbetts said, and told his wife to tell them that he'd be there in 30 minutes.
He continues to executive the pest control for the Jewish Federation, even though he and his family no longer need help from the food bank.
One day, the late Gloria Max, longtime executive director of the Jewish Federation, walked up to him, her hands clasped behind her back.
"She said, 'I need a volunteer for Mondays and Fridays. You can do it, right?'" Tibbetts recalled. "With her, it's never a question, it's a statement, and the only proper answer is 'Yeah, I'll make time on my schedule.'"
The rest, he said, is history.
One of the primary things Tibbetts does as a volunteer is collect food from Second Harvest Food Bank for the Jewish Federation. Every week, he and fellow volunteer Randy McDonald will drive to Second Harvest, sort through the food items for what's needed, and return to the Jewish Federation to get the food ready for other volunteers to assemble before families are due to arrive.
Tibbetts is approaching 70 years old, and said he continues to volunteer because it makes him feel fulfilled.
"It allows me to go to sleep at night, and rest easy," he said. "It doesn't mean I can get back to sleep if I wake up in the middle of the night, but it gives me a really good, warm, fuzzy feeling, if you want to put it that way."
"[Paul] works a minimum of 3 days per week and is always on call. He is punctual and dedicated and a considerate person who doesn’t hesitate to jump in to get the job done."
Elinor Sheriff, fellow Jewish Federation volunteer
He didn't think he would continue to volunteer for over a decade when Max first approached him. Like all things in life, he figured it would come to an end for one reason or another, but after getting involved, he found he can't stop — the food bank has become part of his life.
"I need something to do with my time and I want it to be constructive," Tibbetts said. "I don't want to just sit by the creek with a fishing pole in one hand and a beer on the other and watch the water go by. I carve out enough time for that."
Tibbetts tries to treat everyone he meets with respect. And, he tries not to judge.
Sometimes, people will drive up to the food bank with nice cars and he needs to remind himself that for some, that car is all they have — or that it may not be their car at all, but one they borrowed to be able to get food for their family that week.
A lot of people are one step away from needing to go to a food bank, he said. He remembers once seeing the ex wife of a former congressman pull up and ask for help.
"Changes a perspective a bunch, little things like that," Tibbetts said.
Every day, Tibbetts recites Psalm 118:24: "This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad." It reminds Tibbetts — who has seven children, 10 grandchildren and three great grandchildren — that every day is a gift.
"And I wake up every day and I thank [God] every day for letting me wake up," Tibbetts said.
There are times, he said, where he sees people tear up when they receive help at the food bank. That makes him emotional, because he remembers how overwhelmed he and his wife felt when they were on the receiving end, when they saw how much food the Jewish Federation was going to give them.
"I knew right then that I needed to do something," Tibbetts said. "It's the people, the gratitude that we see."
