Every day, at the Greater Chicago Food Depository and across our network of over 800 partner food pantries, soup kitchens and other programs, volunteers work hard to provide meals for people experiencing food insecurity in Chicago and Cook County. They come from all walks of life – retirees, corporate groups, students – united by the mission to end hunger.
In fiscal year 2024, more than 25,000 people volunteered nearly 100,000 hours at the Food Depository. Volunteers at our warehouse alone repacked more than 7 million pounds of food for distribution to our partner sites. This April, Volunteer Awareness Month, we celebrate those who give their time and energy to ensure that neighbors have food on their tables.
Finding purpose through service
When Tiffanee Lymore, 43, a flight attendant, first walked through the Food Depository’s doors nearly 25 years ago, she was an undergraduate student at Chicago State University. What started as a single volunteer session quickly became a cornerstone of her life.
“As soon as I volunteered for the first time, I knew there was a place for me at the Food Depository,” Lymore said. “I felt welcome immediately, and I’ve been coming back ever since.”
In recent years, Lymore has chosen to spend less time flying and more time volunteering. She frequently serves as a volunteer ambassador, guiding new participants in repack sessions. During these sessions, held twice daily five days a week, volunteers repack bulk food items into family-sized containers for distribution to partner sites.
Lymore has also dedicated countless hours to meeting with grocery store owners as a food rescue ambassador, distributing food at the Veteran’s Stand Down events and rescuing unused food at trade shows across the city.
“That’s the beauty of it,” she said. “As a volunteer, you can do so much to help your community.”
Tiffanee Lymore volunteers with the Food Depository at Senior Fest in downtown Chicago.
New Paths in Volunteering
David Flores, a retired firefighter, discovered the Food Depository two years ago, shortly after retiring. In addition to working at repacks and serving as a volunteer ambassador, Flores’s main role has been assisting with our hydroponics pilot program. Twice a week, he tends to basil and parsley crops in our indoor farming space, which are ultimately used in prepared meals, and promptly distributed to neighbors in need.
“I never thought I’d be an urban farmer,” Flores said, “but I love it. I’ve learned so much, and I know the produce is going out to the community.” A veteran, Flores also participates in volunteer events like the Chicago Veteran’s Stand Down. “It’s humbling to help fellow vets in need.”
“There’s so much to do here, and I feel like I’m learning every day. It’s opened my eyes to experiences I never imagined,” Flores shared.
David Flores works on the hydroponics pilot program at the Food Depository.
Delivering Impact
Volunteer truck drivers also play a significant role. In fiscal year 2024, they completed a combined 3,420 volunteer hours delivering food to pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and other food access programs throughout Chicago and Cook County.
When Thomas LeClair retired in 2019 after 38 years in the nonprofit field, he sought a way to continue helping others. He found his calling as a volunteer driver for the Food Depository.
“Every day I drive throughout Chicago, delivering to food pantries and senior housing,” LeClair said. “I meet the most beautiful people—pantry volunteers who’ve spent decades providing food for those in need.”
LeClair treasures exploring neighborhoods and hearing stories from those he serves. “It keeps me tied to the city I love: Chicago,” he said. “Every day I get to do this is rewarding.” Since he started, LeClair has spent almost 900 hours delivering food as a volunteer driver.
Food Depository volunteer drivers Bill Milleker (left) and Jim Grant (right) deliver fresh produce and shelf stable goods to a pantry on Chicago's North side.
“It amazes me how much food comes in and goes out of the Food Depository. They truly try to reach as many people as possible, and as drivers, we’re a direct part of that.”
Advocating for Equity
Our Food Equity Ambassadors engage with legislators to advocate for anti-hunger policies, bringing insights from their experiences. One ambassador, Janet Edmonson, previously managed a home health care agency, where she witnessed seniors’ needs firsthand and gained a passion for ending hunger among older adults.
Janet Edmonson (third from the left) pictured at the Food Depository’s lobby day in Washington D.C. with fellow advocates and Food Depository employees.
Janet’s journey with the Food Depository began in 2022 when she joined the Community Council for Food Equity. Since then, she has traveled to Springfield and Washington, D.C., to meet with elected officials, sharing powerful firsthand accounts of the challenges her community faces with hunger.
“Elected officials need to hear directly from people,” said Janet. “It’s more impactful when you have a person sitting in front of you, sharing their story.”
“I’ve learned so much since becoming a Food Equity Ambassador. It ultimately helps me to help others.”
Community at Its Core
Volunteers at partner sites are equally vital to the Food Depository’s mission. Maria Fernandez, who works in senior services for the city of Berwyn, started volunteering at Christian Life Center, Berwyn’s only food pantry, just over a year ago.
Maria Fernandez (left) helps a guest transport the food she received at Christian Life Center pantry (Photo by Abel Uribe for the Greater Chicago Food Depository.)
“I saw seniors I assist in my job coming to the pantry,” Fernandez recalled. “It made me realize how much of a difference this place makes.”
Fernandez values the camaraderie among volunteers. “Everyone here comes because they love to help,” she says. “It’s a community – young or old, it doesn’t matter. We’re all here to serve.”
The Bigger Picture
The Food Depository is grateful to work with such passionate and dedicated volunteers. For many, volunteering is more than an act of service – it’s a way to connect, heal and empower their communities.
Volunteers help to pick corn at the Food Depository's annual corn harvest.
Joining the volunteer community at the Food Depository is an impactful way to take action in the movement to end hunger. Whether it's repacking food, delivering vital supplies, or advocating for food equity, every effort contributes to building a stronger, hunger-free future. Now is the time to get involved and make a difference.
Join our volunteers and take the next step in creating meaningful change.
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