Date: February 2026
When Jim Peace was receiving
chemotherapy for his bone cancer, the
retired Army veteran said that after
treatments, the only thing he had strength
for was resting on the couch.
Now in remission, one of the things Peace
celebrates most when he volunteers at
the Food Bank is how the work to give
back to his community has played such a
pivotal role in improving his physical
strength.
“It’s a great way to spend part of your day. It’s rewarding to be here and do this,” he said. “All the
staff is just awesome. It’s a fun environment. It beats sitting at home doing nothing.”
Jim has volunteered with the Food Bank just shy of a year. Each shift, he shows up ready to help
wherever needed, whether it’s bundling up in his winter jacket and gloves to restock freezer shelves or distributing food to shoppers.
Volunteers, like Jim, are truly the heart of the Food Bank’s operations. Not only are they sorting
donations, stocking shelves, making meals and distributing food — they also play such a vital role in creating an environment that is welcoming and friendly to the community.
Food Bank staff recently got the chance to recognize the ten volunteers who contributed the most hours in 2025. This group dedicated over 5,800 hours in the last year. And likely anyone who has used the Food Bank’s services or volunteered has seen these dedicated volunteers lending a helping hand. Overall, last year, more than 8,300 volunteers served 71,970 hours. In the month of December alone, volunteers worked enough hours to be equivalent to 31 full-time staff members.
These numbers underscore just how valuable volunteers are in the Food Bank’s operations.
For his part, despite all he’s been through, Jim lives by the motto that laughter is the best medicine and he shares a bit of his laughter each time that he volunteers.
“I love to put smiles on people’s faces,” Jim said. “I try to always be positive and cheerful. I greet
most of our clients, say hi, and ask them how they’re doing. I enjoy giving. Giving them my time,
giving them my cheer.”
