For decades, volunteers have – and continue to be – the lifeblood of the Food Depository’s work.
Their dedication and passion make it possible to feed our neighbors facing hunger, especially amid the COVID-19 crisis. Since the start of the pandemic two years ago, Food Depository volunteers have contributed more than 160,000 hours of service. This April, National Volunteer Month, we honor and thank those who give their time and energy to our mission. Here are just a few of their stories:Eddy Gonzalez
When the pandemic first hit Chicago in March 2020, Eddy Gonzalez saw calls for volunteers to help pack food in the Food Depository’s warehouse. He decided to come help, and he hasn’t stopped ever since.
Eddy Gonzalez
“The idea that there are people who struggle in Chicago – if I can help avoid that for them, I will,” he said.To date, he’s logged nearly 300 hours at repack sessions and helps at a local food pantry. He also was an early participant in the Food Depository’s new Spanish-language volunteer sessions, El Reempaque. The monthly program was created to make volunteering more equitable for all Chicagoans. His driving motivation, he said, is knowing his work has a direct impact. “The benefit of your volunteer time, of your work here, will literally mean somebody can eat,” Gonzalez said about giving back. “If you do sacrifice a little bit of yourself, the reality is that there will be people who can – and surely do – benefit from it. This world is way too difficult if we’re all alone.”
Edmund Leong
For high school senior Edmund Leong, spending his Saturdays packing food is a great way to relieve stress. “Homework can be a big stressor in my life,” said Leong, 18. “Here, you can kill two birds with one stone. You can both relax but also contribute to your community.”
Edmund Leong
Sherrie Dentley
Like so many, Sherrie Dentley was hit hard by the isolation that came with the early months of the pandemic.
Sherrie Dentley assembles boxes in the Food Depository warehouse during a volunteer session.
“Everyone has their own struggles and challenges, but I don’t want to be so insular and narrow that I can only see what I need to do,” Dentley said. “There’s things outside myself that need to be done.”Dentley, a native of the Chatham neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side, has been volunteering regularly for the last year and a half. She also serves as a Volunteer Ambassador, assisting other volunteers and helping repack sessions run smoothly. The self-described “helper-type” is also making personal strides. She’s currently back in school to start a new career in library services. It’s the knowledge that she and the rest of her fellow volunteers are making a difference that keeps Dentley coming back through the Food Depository doors week after week. “It’s just a very warm feeling you get knowing you’re helping someone,” she said. Look out for more volunteer stories this month on The Hunger Beat. For those interested in giving back, sign up for a volunteer session at the Food Depository. Or, to help out closer to home, find a partner site near you by using our Find Food Map and ask about volunteer opportunities.