Volunteer Spotlight
“Everyone deserves to live with dignity and choice.” These words came from our very own Jill-Anne, a long-time 360 Eats volunteer, who stated this as one of the reasons giving back to her community is so important. Jill-Anne volunteers, donates, and works for nonprofits that focus on economic equity and social justice. We’re lucky to have her.
Our volunteers are the backbone of 360 Eats. As a small team of five, we rely heavily on those outside of the organization to help us rescue, sort, prep, and serve food weekly to hundreds of people in food deserts across Pinellas County.
This month, we’re highlighting three of our favorite volunteers: Jill-Anne, Micaela, and Bryan. We asked them what they love most about volunteering and why giving back is so important to them. Their responses were inspiring.
So, why is giving back such a big deal?
Micaela, a product manager for a digital company and a hiker in her spare time, prioritizes volunteering because it brings her joy. “Volunteering helps me feel more connected, and see the difference it makes in the place I call home,” she told us. Our other volunteer, a private chef named Bryan, had a similar sentiment, stating that he loves “giving to the community to celebrate the unity that embraces us all.”
It creates a sense of community.
A feeling of connection is a definite perk of volunteering. Working as a team to enhance the lives of those we serve is an excellent way to foster feelings of belonging and togetherness—of purpose and meaning. It’s the gift that keeps giving back!
It benefits everyone involved.
Not only are our volunteers gifted with joy, purpose, and a sense of community, our meal recipients benefit as well.
We serve over 400 hundred meals every week with the more than 9,000 pounds of food rescued from food distribution centers, grocery stores, and farms every month! That’s a lot of food rescuing and meal prepping, but thanks to our volunteers it all gets done. The extra hands ensure our recipients are given healthy meals every week, so our volunteers are doing a massive service for their community.
Why should I volunteer with 360 Eats?
Because we’re awesome! Kidding. Sure, while we may think we’re pretty cool, there are other reasons why our volunteers love 360 Eats.
What our volunteers say:
“I’m passionate about food and food systems, which is what got me interested in volunteering with 360 Eats. Their approach to addressing food waste and hunger simultaneously is remarkable.” - Micaela
For Jill-Anne: “Chef Ellen and Cameron are inspiring, compassionate, and driven! I love their commitment to the Pinellas County community, and I am grateful for the small part I get to play in their mission.” Your part is anything but small, Jill-Anne. It’s massive! We couldn’t do what we do without you!
And for Bryan: “I love being a part of something that redirects excess into greater accessibility and availability. I’ve seen first hand how dedicated Cameron and Ellen are. It’s an absolute honor to serve beside them.”
The common denominator among all of our volunteers is a love for their community and a passion for fighting food insecurity and food waste. If you share these same values, we highly encourage you to join our family of dedicated helpers be a part of something really awesome. You are definitely important and so needed!
How do I get involved?
Click here to see a list of our available volunteer shifts. There’s plenty to do, so it should be easy to find a task you’ll enjoy. From taking a scenic drive out to our food partners for a food rescue, sorting food, chopping up some veg in the kitchen with our fun-loving chefs, or seeing your direct impact serving meals on the Sustain-A-Bowl food truck, there’s something for everyone. We invite you to join us!
Special thanks to Bryan, Jill-Anne, and Micaela for their kind words, their support, and the time they give to help us with our mission. We appreciate you all!
