April is Volunteer Appreciation Month! The Idaho Foodbank works with more than 29,000 volunteers a year who donate over 70,000 hours of service; enough to fill 33 full-time positions. We couldn’t do our work without our volunteers and our aim is to celebrate the kids, seniors, families, corporations and organizations who give their time and talents year-round.
Be careful talking with Lisa and her husband Kelly Ish, they might just inspire you to give away your whole paycheck, for a year. That’s just what these two did when they decided to make 2021 a year of giving. Kelly says, “We believe you can’t give away too much.”
Volunteer Gennese Annen is a regular face at the eastern region foodbank in Pocatello. She says, “I initially chose to volunteer at The Idaho Foodbank because I wanted to give back to the community and help people in need. It makes you realize how small and insignificant your problems are when you see people who are struggling just with the basic needs of hunger and putting food on the table for their families. It’s humbling and inspiring to be a part of changing that in any way.”
We are lucky to have hundreds of volunteers who spend time with us at The Idaho Foodbank. In fact, they log 70,000 volunteer hours a year, which equates to 33 full-time employees. One such special volunteer is Janelle Haag, who has volunteered at the Idaho Foodbank for nine years.
Volunteering for an organization or a cause you care about can have a profound impact on your health – both mentally and physically. When you volunteer, you have the opportunity to make meaningful and lasting connections with your community. These connections can help you build confidence, improve your social skills, network to land your next job and feel a sense of purpose.
Following CDC recommendations, we are now requiring all volunteers to bring and use a cloth mask during their shift as an added layer of caution. We greatly appreciate the donation of masks at any of our facilities or to your local food pantry.
