Volunteer Spotlight: Gloria

For Gloria, retired from the Cleveland Heights Library, community service is a core part of her identity. After spending years working in schools and libraries, Gloria sought a volunteer opportunity that balanced her passion for helping others with a flexible schedule. She found her home here at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, where she now volunteers three times a week, serving everywhere from the repack floor to the Healthy Choice Market at our Community Resource Center.

“It’s just a part of who I am,” Gloria says. “We’re supposed to take care of each other.”

In addition to sorting and distributing food, Gloria enjoys building connections with the neighbors she serves. She often brings in boxes of donated books and promotes our partnership with the Kids Book Bank to ensure children visiting the Food Bank leave with something to read. She said that children are often thrilled to pick their own books out and are especially excited when they learn they can bring them home. For Gloria, these interactions highlight the true mission: providing not just a meal, but a sense of dignity and a ray of hope for neighbors facing difficult situations.

The Greater Cleveland Food Bank relies on more than 16,000 volunteers each year who collectively provide over 100,000 hours of service. From packing Backpacks for Kids to ensure students have food over the weekend to assisting seniors with emergency boxes, these dedicated individuals are the backbone of the organization.

Whether you are a retiree like Gloria, a corporate group, or an individual looking to give back, there is a place for you to make a difference. The Food Bank offers a variety of roles tailored to different skill sets and schedules, making it easy for anyone to jump in and start helping. As Gloria tells anyone nervous about their first time: “Don’t feel like you have to commit long term. Just come one time and see what you think.”

You can take the first step to show up for our neighbors in need today by signing up at GreaterClevelandFoodBank.org/Volunteer.

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