If given the right opportunity, people enjoy helping other people. And at Target Center from Wednesday to Friday last week, five different departments within the Timberwolves and Lynx organizations competed in a food drive from which all items were donated to Minnesota FoodShare, which in turn allocated the food to PRISM (People Responding In Social Ministry).

PRISM is a community-funded social service agency located in Golden Valley that provides for families in need of food, financial assistance, transportation and other services when the going gets tough. Its stated mission is to "walk alongside families providing support-based programs that encourage self-sufficiency. And, in order to reach even more people, in addition to the food drive the Timberwolves FastBreak Foudation donated $10,000 to the Minnesota FoodShare campaign in March, which raises food and money throughout the month to supply food for the entire year.

Thus, when Wolves and Lynx staffers picked up some food items, they collectively knew it was going to a great place.

But they couldn't have realized that they'd combine to collect 1,615 pounds of food ... and the staffers definitely didn't realize that since PRISM calculates that the average person takes in 23 pounds of food every two-and-a-half weeks, the food drive will provide 70 individuals with food for that entire period.

On hand at Prism earlier this week to drop off the food donation were Wolves center Chris Richard and Lynx guard Noelle Quinn.

"I've helped out at a soup kitchen before in college, but this is my first time being behind the scenes and helping to box things and unload things," said Richard. "It's always touching to do something like this."

Richard - all 6-9, 270 pounds of him - may not qualify for that 23 pound for two-and-a-half week deal, but he isn't exactly average sized. For most of the roughly 3,500 people served by PRISM, that's more than enough.

"With my being from a single-parent household, this was especially meaningful for me," said Quinn. "My mom did everything she could to provide for me and my sister, but to be in a situation where you can give back and help other families with clothes, food or a car is very satisfying.

That's right: clothes, food, and even cars. For 35 years now, PRISM staff and volunteers (65 volunteers per week) help families that are often one car repair, medical bill or broken hot water heater away from financial crisis. The financial assistance program provides zero percent interest loans on a case-by-case basis; car ownership programs help parents who have been working 30 days or more to receive a vehicle; PRISM Express provides area residents (through five suburbs) with curb-to-curb transportation; Ways to Work finds ways to help families obtain transportation; and PRISM even has an automotive shop fixing cars at below-market rate.

"It's amazing how immediate an impact you can have on the lives of others," said Executive Director of PRISM Elizabeth Johnson. "We do everything we can to ensure that the people we help maintain a high degree of dignity and respect."

As Johnson led Richard, Quinn and assembled Wolves and Lynx staff on a tour around PRISM, Quinn seemed to grasp Johnson's message: "There are still good people out there working hard to help others," she said. "For me personally, I always appreciate people who do for others, because that's what the world is about."

"I didn't have to go through it myself, but I've had some extended family come to places like this," added Richard. "So it definitely touches me on a personal level as well."

How is PRISM able to do so many great things in the community, you wonder? The pie chart of its cash, product and service donations includes: 26% individuals; 20% businesses; 20% churches; 14% program revenue; 9% foundations and grants; 6% civic organizations; 3% fundraisers; and 2% municipal grants.

To find out much more about PRISM, simply go to www.prismmpls.org. If you're looking for an opportunity to get involved by volunteering, call (763)529-1350 and ask for the volunteer and resource manager.

Indeed, through its food drive, the Wolves and Lynx were elated to have had the opportunity to make even a small impact.