As need for food bank grows, volunteer says it's clear 'we really do affect the community'

Amanda Stanzelsays she started volunteering at The Food Bank of Waterloo Region in 2016 with her step-son because they wanted to find a way to put good into the world.

Since then, she has worked in the warehouse and at various events and says making a connection with people has been very rewarding.

"I can distinctly remember one woman coming up and giving like $100 because she said she had to use the food bank when she was younger, when she was a young mother, and she would cry thinking, how am I going to feed my kids? And then the food bank was there for her to help her," Stanzel said.

"It's stories like that that just it shows that we really do affect the community."

In a community impact report released last month, the food bank said the number of new households needing food assistance in the community jumped 113 per cent in one year.

More than 58,600 adults, children, and seniors accessed food assistance this year a 45 per cent increase compared to last year'sreport.

Stanzel says having spoken to people in the community, she's not surprised that the numbers have risen so dramatically.

"I hate that the need's so greatand I feel like I want to do more and I try to do as much as I can," she said. "Iknow everybody out there also tries to do as much as they can and it's really appreciated. Every little bit helps."

For every dollar donated, the food bank is able to turn that intotwo meals for someone who is hungry in the community. But with money tight for many people this year, Stanzel said if people can't give money or food donations, they can give their time.

"There's just so much that they can do and it works around your schedule," she said."There's so many options and it's it's wonderful that you can kind of do as much or give as much as you can."

Volunteers 'key to the work we do'

Standing in the warehouse, Kim Wilhelm, interim CEO of The Food Bank of Waterloo, says volunteers "are key to the work we do" and she called them "absolutely incredible."

"The work is physical," she said. "They're helping to pick orders, they're helping to move food around, sort food, there's so many things that require the work of our team and volunteers each day here in our warehouse."

If people find that work to be too physical, there are events and opportunities for people to do work in the community at events to help raise food and funds for the food bank and connect with people.High school students can also work with the food bank to get their required volunteer hours.

"We really try to match an individual with the work they want to do and their time," she said.

No one in our community should go hungry

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