Pictured: Temple Emanu-El was recognized as the Top Fundraiser/Food Drive honoree for the eighth consecutive year.

During All Faiths Food Bank’s recent Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon, the area’s only food bank and largest hunger relief organization recognized the significant contributions of its volunteer corps. These “Hunger Heroes” contributed tens of thousands of hours to help the food bank in its mission of ending hunger. Activities volunteers assist with include food sorting and packing, distributing food at mobile and school pantries, spearheading donation drives, collecting food through corporate food drives, participating in nutrition education and cooking classes, providing administrative assistance, volunteering at events, packing “BackPacks” of food for area students, and much more. The honorees during the 2024 Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon were: Kim Knox (Lead Volunteer), Susan Moore (Mobile Farm Market), Cynthia Berkovsky (Mobile Pantry), Corey Scogin (DeSoto Food & Resource Center), Karen Lee (DeSoto Mobile Pantry), Marc Halman (School Pantry), Eliza Duade (New Volunteer), Paula Schuler-Evans (Registration/Link-2-Feed), Church of St. Patrick’s (Community Group), CAE (Corporate Group), Temple Emanu-El (Top Fundraiser/ Food Drive), Ann Brooks (Sorting Room), Brent Barnes and Cully Pfanmiller (Outstanding Youth Volunteers), Jon and Barbara Ryder (Power Couple), Gran Paradiso community in Venice (BackPack Fundraising), Barbara Fraser (BackPack Leadership), Kim McFarlane (Administrative), and Val Wawrin (Event Volunteer). The organization also recognized volunteers who have contributed 500 and 1,000 service hours. “All Faiths Food Bank is honored and grateful to have one of the most robust volunteer bases in the region,” said president and CEO Nelle S. Miller. “Our volunteers are essential in helping us to maximize our reach and impact, ensuring that we can carry out activities at a level that our professional team couldn’t achieve without their support.” In 2023, AFFB’s volunteers contributed more than 52,300 hours to help make a positive impact on the lives of their neighbors in need. For more about All Faiths Food Bank or to learn how you can be a “Hunger Hero,” visit allfaithsfoodbank.org.

Pictured: Temple Emanu-El was recognized as the Top Fundraiser/Food Drive honoree for the eighth consecutive year.