For the past five years, Len and Liane Giambalvo have worked selflessly to serve the greater Scarborough community as volunteers for the Scarborough Food Pantry. Due to the couple’s dedication to helping those in need in the local community, Scarborough Terrace Assisted Living presented the Giambalvos with the annual Scarborough Terrace Assisted Living Senior Service Award. The senior service award is presented annually by Scarborough Terrace to a deserving senior volunteer or volunteers to acknowledge the impactful work local seniors do to give back to the community. Additionally, Scarborough Terrace also recognized the Scarborough Food Pantry for the organization’s commitment to helping the hungry in Scarborough and neighboring towns. The Scarborough Food Pantry and the Giambalvos were each awarded a gift of $500 from Scarborough Terrace during a special ceremony held at the senior living community.
“We were surprised to receive this recognition,” said Liane. “As a volunteer, you never really think about being honored for something that seems so natural, especially when you don’t ask for thanks. Volunteering at the food pantry is an opportunity to positively impact the lives of others. When we moved to Scarborough, we wanted to find a way to integrate into the community and found that in the food pantry. We both came from health care backgrounds – in fact, I was a registered dietician – so we knew that having a role in feeding people and providing proper nutrition was critically important.”
The Scarborough Food Pantry is an all-volunteer community group dedicated to helping the hungry in Scarborough and neighboring communities. The food pantry serves roughly 150 families every month and is open to anyone in need of its services. Sponsored by the First Congressional Church of Scarborough, the food pantry relies on the generosity of many groups and private donations, in addition to the dedication of volunteers who devote their time in hope to alleviate hunger in the community.
“It really struck me to learn how many people are affected by hunger and homelessness in our community and the surrounding area,” said Len. “The longer we’ve been volunteering, the more we’ve learned where we can lessen the burden and take on more responsibility. Liane and I have done what we can to find places that are willing to help with donations or provide recipes for those who walk through the door so they know how to prepare the food they take home. We have been so fortunate, it’s the least we can do to give back to those who might be struggling. It’s all about looking at the whole person and making them feel welcome and cared for when they walk in the door.”
According to Ellen Parenteau, executive director for the Scarborough Food Pantry, the Giambalvos regularly go above and beyond to ensure that those served by the food pantry have access to fresh and nutritious items and feel loved and appreciated.
“Len and Liane are two of those special people who do everything with others in mind,” said Parenteau. “The two of them always think of ways we can make this place better and maximize the services we provide. Len is always bringing in new items that he finds at the store, including a selection of fresh vegetables. Liane looks at what items we have in stock and goes home to create recipes to hand out to our guests so they can learn new ways to use the items they take home. As if that’s not enough, she’ll even make the recipe and hand out samples. It’s this selflessness that reminds us that what we’re doing is important. We’re so thankful when community organizations such as Scarborough Terrace join us in our mission to serve the people of Scarborough and recognize those who make that possible.”
“We’re privileged to honor our local volunteers and celebrate them for the work they do for the betterment of the local community,” said Judy Cox, executive director of Scarborough Terrace. “Individuals like Len and Liane Giambalvo are inspiring reminders of what it means to live selflessly and make a difference in the lives of others. At Scarborough Terrace, our desire is to provide our residents with high-quality care and the ability to live fulfilling lives, and we are honored to stand alongside those in the local community who are similarly dedicated to serving seniors and other families.”