Pam’s Story of Volunteering and Giving
Pam has been volunteering at Community Food Share for over three years, though her relationship with the organization began long before her retirement. When she was working, she could only participate in a monthly Saturday session until it was discontinued. However, upon retiring, Pam fully immersed herself into the work. “I’m here every week,” she explains, “and most of the time I try to do two shifts.”
For Pam, it wasn’t just about finding a way to spend time after retirement. Volunteering was a conscious choice driven by a strong desire to give back. “It seemed like the need in the community was really growing,” she reflects. “This was a way that I could do something purposeful.” Every task she’s undertaken at Community Food Share made it clear that her presence was essential. The fulfillment from this realization is what has kept her returning to the warehouse, week after week.
Having volunteered for other organizations over the years, Pam speaks with certainty when she says, “This is hands down, the best volunteer job I have ever had.” Her involvement didn’t stop with volunteering. Eventually, Pam became a monthly donor, along with her husband. The decision to donate was a natural progression from her time spent volunteering. “It’s obvious the need is right here all the time,” Pam says, and like many others, she wanted to ensure her support continued without the need for constant thought. “We set it up, and then you don’t have to think about it.”
To those who may be on the fence about giving, Pam has a message: “Every dollar goes a long way. There’s a huge need in our community, and it’s growing.” Her advice is clear: make a donation, but also come and see the work happening at Community Food Share. “It takes an army of volunteers to run this place,” Pam points out, noting that volunteer hours alone equate to the work of 11 full-time staff members each year.
Pam’s love for volunteering shines through, not just in the tasks she performs but also in the relationships she’s built. “There’s no people here because they have to be here. They want to be here,” she says. And that’s what makes Community Food Share so special to her.
For Pam, Community Food Share is more than a place to volunteer. It’s a community where everyone, staff and volunteers alike, is working toward the same goal: fighting hunger and supporting those in need. And for Pam, that mission makes every hour spent there meaningful.
