By Robb Murray
The Free Press
MANKATO — Head down to the ECHO Food Shelf on any given day and chances are one of the first things you’ll notice is Darius Knox.
He might be hollering back to a fellow volunteer to bring up another carton of milk or a dozen eggs. He might be hastily unloading a truck full of food and restocking the organization’s shelves. Or he might be in the lobby conversing with the clients, making sure everything stays sane.
Darius, a Chicago transplant, is one of many volunteers at ECHO, and his attitude toward helping his community is an example of what volunteers mean to the many nonprofits in the region.
Without people like Darius who are willing to donate their time so that others may struggle a little less, ECHO would have a much harder time fulfilling its mission.
Knox’s life in Chicago was, obviously, a little different than what people are used to around here. He was confronted with gangs, drugs, murder and all the other drama that comes from growing up in an urban setting. And he said people, for the most part, are nicer here.
“For example, in Chicago, if you’re on the highway and you need to get over into another lane, chances are the person will speed up versus letting you getting in front,” he said. “In Mankato, the person will usually back up and let you get in front.”
After high school, he said he didn’t think he was university material. But after his brother came to MSU on a football scholarship and graduated with a degree in law enforcement, he decided there was no reason he couldn’t come to Mankato and be just as successful.
In his spare time, Knox is in a leadership role with the Mankato Lodge of Freemasons. He also works as a body guard and says he has protected such hip-hop luminaries as J-Kwon and Project Pat.
And he hopes to start up his own small business soon — fugitive recovery. Yes, he wants to be a bounty hunter on the side. And it’s not about the money.
“It’s just something I love doing,” he said. “I’ll be a cop for free almost.”
Q: What brought you to Mankato?
A: The law enforcement program at Minnesota State University.
Q: How did you come to be an ECHO Food Shelf volunteer?
A: Saw an ad on TV asking for volunteers.
Q: Describe the different types of work you do with ECHO.
A: Unload trucks, assist people that need assistance to their cars, stock food, help people get signed up and package food orders and hand them out when clients pick them up.
Q: What’s the best part about volunteering at ECHO?
A: Working with people who are interested in helping others despite one’s social class, ethnic background, religion, or in general simply caring for people from all walks of life.
Q: What’s the most difficult part about volunteering at ECHO?
A: Working in such limited space. It reminds me of rush hour the way we bump into each other — sometimes even holding over 50 pounds of food.
Q: How do you, as a full-time student and part-time employee, find time to volunteer?
A: I’m a part-time process server and currently taking 18 upper-division credits at MSU. When I have to serve someone (legal notifications such as a summons), it’s normally at my discretion, which makes it easy for me to attend school, study and volunteer in the community.
For the past three years I’ve also rung bells for the Salvation Army during the Christmas season. When I help others, it actually gives me more energy instead of taking it way. It varies as far as the time I can commit on a weekly basis.
Q: How long do you plan to stick around with ECHO?
A: I plan to stick around for as long as I’m needed. Chances are I will reside in Mankato forever, so as long as I’m around, they can always count on me.
Q: Tell us something most people don’t know about you.
A: Most people don’t know that I strive to be a better man on a daily basis for the good of society in addition to always helping others do the same. My fraternity teaches a great concept in a good man being better. Hence, this is why I am what I am today.
