Volunteering is not only a way to give back and make positive change in your community – it’s also an opportunity to make new friends, and strengthen your existing bonds.
To celebrate the month of love, we asked Food Bank volunteers to tell us about the friends they’ve made volunteering, and the relationships they’ve deepened by fighting hunger together. Here’s what they had to say…
Linda and Isabelle
Linda and her crew from United Cerebral Palsy of the North Bay volunteer at our Fairfield warehouse Monday through Friday. It was during these daily volunteer shifts that Linda struck up a friendship with Isabelle – a food sorting coordinator here at the Food Bank.
“I feel very blessed and happy to have met Isabelle while volunteering,” shares Linda. “I found out Isabelle loves Disneyland and goes whenever she gets a chance. Me too!
“We shared our ongoing adventures and love of the experiences, then we started talking about other stuff and meeting outside the Food Bank for dinner and the occasional movie. A friendship was afoot! Without the Food Bank I probably never would have met Isabelle.”
Charlene and Vicky
Charlene and Vicky met at our Concord warehouse while volunteering to sort food and bag produce and found they had a lot in common.
“During our activities we catch up on vacation plans and current activities we’re exploring,” shares Charlene.
“Shortly after meeting, we ran into each other at a produce distribution at St. Bonaventure in Clayton. I also signed up for the Senior Food Distribution activity at Good Shepherd in Concord only to find Vicky picks up food for her Meals on Wheels deliveries from there!
“We’re always happy to run into each other and give big hugs. We exchanged phone numbers, which allows us to compare volunteer dates in the hope that we can synchronize our calendars.”
Kathy and Tami
Tami met Kathy while volunteering with seniors in her community and the two hit it off.
“Kathy doesn’t drive, so when she told me she volunteers for the Food Bank and needed a ride I took her and the rest is history!” Tami shares. Now they are regular fixtures at our Community Produce Program distribution at the Pittsburgh Historical Museum where they enjoy helping their community and spending time together.
“We both enjoy working with the Food Bank,” Tami says. “It gets us involved with the community, we meet a lot of great people and it’s great giving back to the community.”
Pat and Debbie
“We enjoy any time we can spend time together, especially helping other people and seeing the smiles on their faces.”
Pat and Debbie have been married for 48 years and have spent the last year volunteering together at our Senior Food Program distributions in Antioch.
Fieuy and Elizabeth
Fieuy and Elizabeth met at work, where they bonded over their ability to laugh and have fun together. They now regularly volunteer to distribute food to their neighbors in Vacaville together.
“It feels good to help others, rain or shine, cold or hot, and we love having the opportunity to give back while enjoying each other’s company,” they share.
“The Amigos” – Marcia, Bobbe, Mike, Kathy and Ed
A local animal shelter originally brought this group of friends and spouses together. But when Marcia suggested her friends try joining her for a volunteer shift at the Food Bank, the group quickly developed a passion for fighting hunger too.
They now meet up for a monthly lunch, followed by an afternoon of giving back to their neighbors in need.
“It’s a way to give back because we all have that same value,” says Marcia. And, with the Food Bank regularly on their schedules, they’re spending more time together than ever before!
Aylin and Kristi
These best friends first started volunteering for a class at their school. But they enjoyed packing produce at our warehouse so much they’ve started coming back on their own.
“It makes us feel like we’re helping people – and we’re hanging out,” they share. “It’s two in one.”
Ana and Nancy
It’s a small world. Ana and Nancy not only have volunteering at the Food Bank in common – when these two friends started talking, they discovered they also lived in the same sorority house in their younger years.
“Here we are, how many years after college finding each other again,” says Nancy. She said these moments of connection are one of the things she appreciates about volunteering with the Food Bank. “It’s a lot of nice people and fun to be here.”
Tell us about your volunteer connection!
Have you made new connections or strengthened existing ones while volunteering at the Food Bank? We’d love to share your story too. Get in touch at hello@foodbankCCS.org and let us know who you volunteer with and why you enjoy it.
