You already give your time. You show up, roll up your sleeves and help get nutritious food to neighbors across our community. But what if your impact could extend even further—long after your volunteer shift ends?
Breanne Beseda, Chief Development Officer at the Redwood Empire Food Bank, sees volunteering as the beginning of a deeper relationship with the mission—and a springboard for finding new ways to get involved. “Volunteers are already an essential part of what makes the Redwood Empire Food Bank possible. One of the wonderful things about volunteering is that it often creates a deeper connection to our mission—and that connection can inspire all kinds of action.”
When You See the Mission, You Become Part of It
Volunteering gives you a firsthand look at what it takes to get nutritious food to our neighbors. You see food move through the warehouse and out into the community, meet fellow volunteers and experience the mission in action. That experience can also give you a new perspective on what it takes to keep the work going. Volunteer hours are an essential part of the equation, while financial support provides resources to acquire food, keep it moving through our network and respond when community needs change.
For those looking to provide ongoing financial support, our Full Plate Partner program offers a simple way to stay connected. A monthly gift—whatever amount feels right—provides dependable support the Redwood Empire Food Bank can count on throughout the year. But there are plenty of other ways to give and build on the time you already contribute. A food drive, a group volunteer project, an introduction to a local business or community organization, or lending your voice to hunger relief can all help move the mission forward.
There’s no one-size-fits-all way to make a difference.
Your Story Can Bring Someone Else In
And perhaps one of the most powerful things you can share is something you already have: your experience.
“You’ve been here. You’ve seen the food moving through our warehouse, met other volunteers and experienced firsthand what it means to be part of this community,” Breanne says. “That makes you a natural ambassador.” You don’t have to be a fundraiser or have a polished pitch. Simply telling someone why you volunteer can make the mission feel personal.
Maybe it’s a conversation with a coworker over lunch, a neighbor asking about your volunteer shirt or a friend wondering why you spend your time at the Food Bank. Tell them what you’ve seen and why it matters to you. That genuine connection may be the spark that encourages someone else to volunteer, make a gift, organize a food drive or learn more about hunger in our region.
Every Contribution Counts
For volunteers who wonder whether a small financial gift can really make a difference, Breanne offers a simple reminder: “Your time already makes an enormous difference. A financial gift simply gives you another way to extend that impact.”
Even the smallest financial gift can help. Thanks to the Redwood Empire Food Bank’s buying power, every $1 donated can be stretched into approximately $3 worth of nutritious food for our neighbors. When many people contribute what they can, those gifts add up to provide more food and greater support for our community. And through the Full Plate Partner program, even a modest monthly contribution can provide consistent support from month to month. For someone who has already invested their time, becoming a Full Plate Partner can be another way to say, I believe in this work, and I want to help sustain it.
Start With What You Already Have
So, where do you begin if you want to make an even bigger difference? Breanne suggests looking at what already comes naturally to you.
What are you passionate about? And what do you already have access to? If you love bringing people together, a food drive or group volunteer project might be a natural fit. If you’re connected to a business, school or community organization, you may have an opportunity to introduce others to the mission. And if advocacy speaks to you, your voice can help raise awareness about hunger and the importance of community support.
You don’t need to do everything. Find the opportunity that feels authentic to you. “The best next step is the one that connects your passion, your resources and your relationships to the mission,” Breanne says.
What’s Your Next Step?
You’ve already said yes to Ending Hunger in our Community by giving your time. That commitment is meaningful—and it may be just the beginning.
Your next step could be sharing your experience with a friend, bringing a group together for a food drive, speaking up about hunger or becoming a Full Plate Partner. Whatever you choose, your time, generosity, voice and relationships all have value.
There’s no one right way to be part of ending hunger. The question is: What are you inspired to do next?
