How One Neighbor is Changing Lives Every Month: Meet Sarah
At 65, Sarah is finding new ways to stay active, on her bike, hiking local trails, and giving back to her community. A Minnesota native, she moved to Boulder County after reconnecting with her high school sweetheart.
“I’m a transplant,” she says, “but I’ve really embraced it here. I wasn’t really an athlete before, but now I’m a cyclist, a hiker, I do all the things.”
After retiring from a career in marketing and communications, Sarah wanted to use her time and talents to make a difference. She had long been aware of Community Food Share, “I’ve always been that person who gave at the grocery store,” she explains, but when she stepped away from political volunteer work, she began to think more deeply about how to support her community.
“After the election, a lot of people were frustrated and tired, trying to decide how to make a difference. I think contributing locally, whether that’s your time or your resources, is such an important way to do that. So I looked around at organizations I knew were doing great work, and Community Food Share was at the top of the list.”
Sarah began volunteering in January of this year, trying a little of everything. “I purposely signed up in what I call ‘sampler mode,’” she laughs. “I hadn’t volunteered here before, so I wanted to try a variety of shifts. My first one was at a mobile pantry, and everybody was so nice, the staff, the other volunteers, and the neighbors. It was such a positive experience.”
Over time, Sarah found joy in every aspect of volunteering, whether pulling heavy bags of potatoes in the warehouse (which she nicknames her “warehouse workout”), helping distribute fresh produce at Feeding Families, or meeting new people. She’s even been studying Spanish in the hopes of making her conversations with neighbors more meaningful. But Sarah didn’t stop at giving her time. She also became a monthly donor, something she sees as equally important.
“I can choose where my philanthropy goes, and I picked this as a place I want to prioritize. The big gifts are incredibly valuable, of course, but gifts at any level that people can count on month after month really keep the lights on, help organizations budget, and allow them to plan. That’s why I wanted to move from occasional gifts to regular, dependable giving.”
For Sarah, monthly giving is about more than convenience, it’s about values. “I’m very grateful for everything in my life, and philanthropy is important to me. I give to a few different places, but being able to give in a really concrete way, where you can actually see the difference you’re making right in front of you, that’s huge. I can’t think of a better choice than Community Food Share.”
Her experience as both a volunteer and donor has also changed the way she thinks about hunger. “People don’t always realize how close food insecurity is. You might think it’s some other city or neighborhood, but it isn’t. It’s all around you. And once you realize that, Community Food Share is just such a wonderful avenue for helping. Every dollar goes farther here, you’re multiplying the impact.”
When asked what she would say to someone considering donating or volunteering for the first time, Sarah doesn’t hesitate. “Don’t wait. Just try it. If it’s one dollar, or a hundred, whatever it is, you can feel great knowing it’s being used wisely. And volunteering? It’s just fun. There’s something for everyone, whatever your personality or schedule.”
And if Sarah has a guiding motto, it’s this: “There’s always something you can be doing. If you’re not sure how to affect the world right now, there is always something you can be doing. You just look at what your heart is telling you—what is important to you—and there is something you can do.”
We are so grateful to Sarah for her time, dedication, and consistent support as a volunteer and 303 Sustainer. Her commitment to giving, both her time and her monthly donations, helps ensure that families across Boulder and Broomfield counties have access to nourishing food every day. This Hunger Action Month, we celebrate neighbors like Sarah who show us the power of community, and we invite everyone to join in making a difference, one meal, one shift, or one donation at a time.
