Back in the ‘90s, Barb and Wendy spent their days surrounded by chocolate, where their friendship formed while working together at Laura Secord. Barb supported store communications, while Wendy handled training. It was a great chapter: busy, collaborative, and full of delicious samples!
Though they might not be working together these days, Barb and Wendy are still connected in a meaningful way you might not expect. They both volunteer at local food banks.
Barb volunteers each week in the production hall at Daily Bread. She helps sort and package donated items so that they’re ready for distribution to a network of food programs across the city. Wendy, on the other hand, is on the front lines of distribution in her community, helping pack hampers and hand out food to hundreds of individuals and families each week at one of Daily Bread’s member agencies, Mabelle Food Program.
What’s remarkable is how their efforts intersect. The items Barb helps sort could very well be the same ones Wendy provides to a client. It wasn’t planned this way—in fact, it’s a bit of a coincidence. Barb discovered her role through a workplace volunteer day and knew right away she wanted to continue after retiring. Wendy’s path came through her church community, where she had supported a local food bank before eventually stepping in to volunteer regularly.
Barb enjoys the rhythm of sorting days, the teamwork, the sense of order, and the community among volunteers. For Wendy, the program at Mabelle is a “well-oiled machine,” where dozens of volunteers come together to prepare hundreds of food hampers in just a few hours. Each week, the program serves about 300 families, including both single individuals and larger households.
For both, volunteering has become about more than just food. It’s about people. They’ve seen firsthand how complex food insecurity can be. It’s not just about having enough to eat; it’s about access, dignity, and creating experiences for clients that are grounded in connection and care.
That’s why it’s important for them to continue giving back.
For anyone considering volunteering, their advice is simple—just start. You don’t need special skills. You don’t need a lot of time. You just need to show up, because it all has an impact.
Barb and Wendy’s story is a reminder that meaningful work doesn’t end when a job does. Sometimes, it just takes a new form, and continues, quietly connecting people in unexpected ways.
If you’d like to help make a difference in the community, consider volunteering with Daily Bread.
