It’s come full circle for me.

When GFP Real Estate emailed its employees about an upcoming volunteer opportunity with Citymeals, Jessica, their Managing Director, was delighted. “Once I saw ‘Citymeals’ my eyes lit up,” she says. For Jessica, it was like a homecoming. “I get to volunteer and pack meals — the same food I used to go out and deliver.”  

Jessica’s first job was with the Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center, one of Citymeals’ provider partners. At the time, she was a young single mother who came to the center for a job readiness program. Once she completed the program, she was brought on as a full-time employee. “My first week there, I got acquainted with the meals on wheels department,” says Jessica.  

While she mostly worked at the front desk, Jessica also went on the occasional meal delivery. “To see the joy it brought, that was pretty cool,” she says. She even got to know a few of the recipients who frequented the center. “I still remember the stories they’d tell me,” she says. “It sticks with you.”  

Jessica saw the benefits of the program firsthand. When she learned that her mother qualified, she helped her sign up to receive home-delivered meals, which helped relieve the burden on their household.  

Working alongside her GFP Real Estate colleagues to pack meals is more than just a volunteer opportunity. Now, years after delivering meals, Jessica gets to see where they come from. It’s also a reminder of just how far she’s come. “It’s come full circle for me,” she says.  

With every box she packs, Jessica can’t help but think of who will be delivering them. “These meals are probably going into the hands of another Jessica,” she says, before arriving at their final destination — the hands of one of Citymeals’ 22,000 recipients across the city. That’s something she’s proud to be a part of.