Volunteer Appreciation Week is a time to celebrate volunteers, recognize their impact, and encourage volunteerism in our communities.


Here at St. Mary’s Food Bank, we simply could not function without the support of our volunteers. In fact, if not for volunteers, St. Mary’s Food Bank would have to more than double the size of our staff to meet the needs of our community.


Volunteers are an essential part of fighting hunger in our community. They pack millions of meals every single month for hungry neighbors throughout the state of Arizona. Without their support, we simply could not feed as many people as we do. Not sure what you get out of volunteering?

Here are five of our favorite benefits of volunteering:

1. Make a Difference

After every shift, our volunteers leave knowing they helped put food on the table for people in need. Whether volunteers collect, sort, pack, distribute, or perform any other duties, they are making a direct impact on the community. Volunteering for just a couple of hours can make a huge difference for our neighbors in need.

2. Enjoy Quality Time

Volunteering is an easy way to spend quality time connecting with people you care about. You can reconnect with your co-workers, have a couples’ day out, or bring your kids to one of our Special Family Service Days. Give your couch a break and enjoy some time out of the house in a safe environment.

3. Gain New Skills

For students and young professionals, volunteering is a great way to learn new skills. In just one volunteer shift, you can learn about food banking, earn credits for classes, and show future employers how much you care about the community.

4. Join a Movement

It’s never too late or too early to learn about hunger in the community. Many of our volunteers have shared that their experience volunteering at St. Mary’s Food Bank has changed the way they look at the world. Together, we’re fighting hunger in Arizona!

5. Have Fun!

Finally, we have fun! We turn up the music, dance, and get to work packing boxes of food in an assembly line that feels more like a conga line! We love to shout-out our volunteers on social media. Take photos, film videos, and tag us in your next post so we can highlight your amazing volunteer work on our channels! Ready to volunteer? Visit volunteer.firstfoodbank.org to sign up for a shift today!