For Tillie, volunteerism runs in the family.
In 2016, Tillie’s mom, Heather, volunteered at the Food Share’s warehouse, repacking beans and corn to be distributed by our food pantry partners. Infant Tillie joined in, snug in a baby carrier on Heather’s back, complete with an adorable hairnet to match her mom’s!
“Start ’em young,” Heather said with a laugh.
As the years passed and her dedication grew, Heather was inspired to join the Food Share full time as part of our Development Team.
Needless to say, Tillie’s passion for service was passed down from mother to daughter. Ten years later, she’s back in the Food Share’s warehouse with Heather, repacking beans for families in need across Marion and Polk counties. And this time, they brought friends.
“I thought it was super fun to repack all the beans with my friends,” Tillie said. “I think it’s really nice that people can come and get food when they need it.”
Volunteers are the backbone of our work at the Food Share. In 2025 alone, 3,764 volunteers contributed more than 90,000 hours of service in our warehouse and office, Meals on Wheels, the Youth Farm, and Community Gardens. That translates to roughly 7.5 million meals shared with neighbors facing hunger in our community.
Tillie and Heather show that giving back is in style at every age!
We’re grateful to have friends like Tillie, Heather, and YOU by our side. Thank you for supporting the Food Share’s mission to end hunger and its root causes!
