The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank is the largest hunger-relief organization in San Diego County, serving roughly 400,000 people per month. The nonprofit has a range of programs that help vulnerable San Diegans, including its grocery store–style food pantry and an initiative to provide weekend meals to local students who are at risk for hunger.
The food bank also partners with more than 450 other organizations to expand access to nutritious food. A big part of that effort relies on volunteers. The food bank counts more than 15,000 volunteers among its ranks who sort, pack, and help distribute the millions of pounds that move through its donation centers. Here, volunteer Carol Hunt shares why the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank keeps her coming back.
What made you want to get involved with the San Diego Food Bank?
I got involved right after things started opening back up after Covid. I stopped working, and I was just looking for something to fill my days and to give back to the community. I heard about food insecurity and the food bank, and thought, “Let me go check it out and see if I like it.” I was hooked from the first time.
What do your volunteer duties entail?
I have been really involved with the Food 4 Kids Backpack Program where we pack individual meals that go home with children in their backpacks on Fridays that give them meals that they can prepare themselves for Saturday and Sunday—breakfast and lunch to bridge the gap. There’s an assembly line, and what I do mainly is I keep the assembly line stocked.
So, we might have eight people running the line. Each person is putting a different thing into a bag, and then we’re putting those bags into boxes and onto pallets that will go to individual schools.
We’re packing for individual schools, and also individual students. Everybody gets the exact same thing that’s planned and purchased through the meal program for the kids. I mainly do that during the school year, and then when that’s not running, then I also work in the pantry. People can come and individually shop, or we prepare to-go bags for people, and sort foods and fruits and vegetables and those kinds of things.
What do you like best about volunteering?
I love that it’s super busy and we work really hard, and then at the end we’re given a total of how many bags we packed. On one of our busiest days we did, like, 1,200 bags. That means we’ve literally affected 1,200 kids in three hours. It’s so satisfying. I worked in healthcare for 30 years, so I really missed being with people. And here you just meet people from all different walks of life. You’ve got a unique mix of people that you wouldn’t necessarily come in contact with—which, you know, that’s what makes the world go around.
What’s the biggest challenge you face?
It’s sad to see how many people have food insecurity. And when we’re sorting food, the food waste—things that have gotten spoiled before you’re able to get them packaged and out to people.
Can you describe your favorite or most memorable experience while volunteering?
I don’t know that I have a singular event, but there are some days I leave thinking that it was just so great. You’ve met somebody that you just really jive with or with some groups of people, the flow is just so great and the energy’s really fun.
Any advice you would give someone who’s considering volunteering?
I feel like more people should volunteer because you benefit so much when you do something that affects other people. It’s almost selfish to do this—you receive so much out of it. When you’re in a room of other volunteers and you’re able to pack 1,200 meals for someone—you wouldn’t be able to do that if you had to pay somebody. It’s just really inspiring, and it’s very enjoyable. Even if you can do it once a year, or if you can do it twice a week, I would really encourage people to get out there and try it and find the thing that they enjoy. Come and meet some new people and do some good work.
*Responses edited for length and clarity.
