Mark spent his career working as a regional manager for a logistics company. Once retired, Mark wondered what to do next. A neighbor suggested he help out and do a shift volunteering at St. Mary’s Food Bank.
That day sparked something special. “I met the staff and started talking to them, and thought, ‘This seems like a nice thing to do.’ And being retired, what was I going to do — lie in bed all day, watch TV, drink coffee? No thanks.”
Three years later, Mark is a familiar face at the St. Mary’s Food Bank Surprise Neighborhood Food Center. He comes in most weekdays, sorting food, stocking shelves, and greeting people who come for help.
What keeps Mark coming back is the impact he sees every day. “I’ve never seen a program like this,” he said. “To see the joy on people’s faces when they know they’re getting something to
feed their family”
“There was a lady who came down from Whitman,” Mark recalled. “She had three sons. They were living in their car after being evicted. You could see the tears in her eyes.”
For Mark, volunteering is more than a way to give back, it’s about helping people navigate life’s unexpected challenges. “People have problems — air conditioning breaks, cars break down, life happens,” he said.
“And this place is a stepping stone. It helps people get through the tough spots.”
This National Volunteer Month, we celebrate volunteers like Mark, whose dedication and compassion make a lasting difference in the lives of families across our community. “It’s a good organization,” he said. “And I love being part of it.”
