Volunteer Spotlight: Chris and Karen

For husband-and-wife team Chris and Karen, volunteering is both a way to give back and spend quality time with one another.

Every week, Chris and Karen volunteer for FeedMore WNY’s home-delivered meals program to provide nourishing meals and well-being checks to older adults and neighbors who are homebound. The couple also volunteers in FeedMore WNY’s warehouse a few times per month to sort and pack food donations.

“It’s a way to pay back those who helped us and our children in the past,” Chris explained. “Now that we are retired and have the time, it is our turn.”

Karen agrees that volunteering provides a way for her and Chris to show gratitude and support their community.

“I have been very fortunate in my life in that my family has never had to worry about where the next meal is coming from,” she said. “I feel for families that are facing unemployment, poverty and hard times. If a person has their health, and has the time, they should help others in need. It makes me feel good to know that children are not going hungry because of the food that FeedMore provides.”

Volunteering with FeedMore WNY has also enabled the couple to meet new people and expand their social circle.

“We work with a lot of the same people on a weekly basis, and everyone is friendly and fun to work with. They all have the same goal: to help others,” Chris said.

“All of the volunteers and workers at FeedMore are friendly, kind and hard-working,” Karen added. “It is a wonderful way to meet new people and make new friends!”

Whether it’s delivering meals and offering some companionship to vulnerable neighbors, or packaging food donations to support FeedMore WNY’s partner pantries, Chris and Karen are moved by the direct impact they and their fellow volunteers make in the community.

“Each shift, when you see how many Backpack Program bags we put together, or how many boxes of food we assembled for food pantries, you know that you are making someone’s life a little better,” Chris said.

Learn More About FeedMore WNY Volunteer Opportunities