Food Banks Are Ready To Eat Up Your Volunteer Help!

There’s a well-honed tradition at North Texas Food Bank’s Plano warehouse for the volunteers to follow when packing boxes with food.

One recent morning, a 19-member volunteer team loaded boxes with nonperishable food items – shelf-stable milk, soup, cereal, juice, canned beans, pasta, canned fruit, peanut butter, raisins, and more.

Each box they filled had to weigh 31.5 pounds. If it didn’t, it went back to quality control because that would mean some food item was missing. The boxes moved among a conveyor belt, then were weighed, loaded onto a forklift, and then shrink-wrapped. Eventually, thousands are packed and delivered by Island Harvest to senior citizens across the region.

Why Volunteering at Food Banks Make A Difference

Volunteers are helping the food bank package 4,000 food boxes a month, says the president and chief executive of the food bank. He and officials at the area’s other major food bank said such partnerships – not only with corporate volunteers who give time and money but also with several local hospitals – enable them to have a greater reach to help the local food-insecure population, which by one 2022 estimate was well into the hundreds of thousands of citizens.

“Packing 4,000 boxes is a lot,” he says. “We have a small staff. There’s just no way to achieve the needs of this project and the food needy in our community without volunteers.”

Giving Back at Food Banks

Among the retirees who volunteered recently is a retired teacher who now lives in nearby Denison. She’s been volunteering with North Texas Food Bank for almost 10 years. She was moved to do so, she says, out of a sense of wanting to help the community.

“This is one that definitely speaks to every community because food insecurity happens everywhere, whether it be schools, whether it be seniors,” she says.

Another volunteer said that when he was growing up he and his family received help from various social services programs because his mother was single and disabled. Now he wanted to give back and felt compelled to pitch in.

“I enjoy doing this,” he says. “It’s important that, since I have the capacity now, I can give back. My mother does receive food every month and it really makes a difference for her. Volunteering gives me the insight to see first-hand the incredible difference I can make for others who need the help and support.”

There are food banks across the country looking for help. Organizations like food banks are always looking for volunteers. During this holiday season, showing appreciation for all that you have by helping others is a wonderful idea. Consider pitching in. It can be a win-win: the organization gets the help it desperately needs to fulfill its mission, and you get an opportunity to contribute to others and make a difference. The food bank certainly isn’t the only organization that needs volunteers. Check out the NCRGEA partner Meals On Wheels to see what volunteering is needed this holiday season or throughout the upcoming new year.

NCRGEA Volunteer Event with Meals on Wheels of NC

March 18 March 22

Come join NCRGEA as we celebrate Meals on Wheels during Community Champion Week 2024!

Meals on Wheels (MOW) has claimed the month of March as its time to join forces to strengthen the impact of its efforts and rally communities to increase awareness for Meals and Wheels and recruit the support needed to meet rising demand.

Our members have asked to do much more in the community! We hope you will join with Meals on Wheels for one or multiple shifts ~ you decide!

There are volunteer opportunities for the week of March 18-22 during Community Champions Week. Volunteer with local MOW groups!

We will mail Volunteer t-shirts to our member volunteers who have signed up on our 2024 Registration Form ~

Any questions, please contact NCRGEA Community Liaison, Deryl Davis Fulmer at Deryl@NCRGEA.com.

NCRGEA Volunteer Event with Meals on Wheels of NC

March 20, 2023 @ 10:00 am 2:00 pm

Come join NCRGEA as we celebrate Meals on Wheels during Community Champion Week 2023!

Meals on Wheels has claimed the month of March as its time to join forces to strengthen the impact of its efforts and rally communities to increase awareness for Meals and Wheels and recruit the support needed to meet rising demand.

Our members have asked to do much more in the community! We hope you will join with Meals on Wheels for one or multiple shifts ~ you decide!

There are volunteer opportunities for the week of March 20-24. Click here to volunteer with local MOW groups who are joining our efforts and follow their guidelines for registration. Not all MOW have signed up, but feel free to volunteer at a MOW near you if your community is not showing on this list.

We will mail Volunteer T-shirts to the first 250 volunteers ~ fill out your NCRGEA Interest Form soon!

Any questions, please contact NCRGEA Community Liaison, Deryl Davis Fulmer at deryl@ncrgea.com.