For the past 17 years, Jerry Mendelsohn has been a familiar face at Food Share — packing produce boxes in the warehouse, helping distribute food at College Park, and supporting the mission as both a volunteer and donor.

For Jerry, volunteering with Food Share is deeply personal. His connection began decades ago when his mother-in-law helped launch Food Share’s early computer systems in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Ever since, his family has remained connected to the organization and its mission to feed Ventura County.

“It was kind of a no brainer to volunteer,” Jerry shared.

Alongside his wife Linda, Jerry spent years packing produce boxes before recently joining the volunteer team at the College Park drive-thru distribution in Oxnard. There, volunteers help load food directly into the cars of hundreds of families each week.

“What I want to do is be helpful,” he said. “And then along with that comes all the people… who are grateful to be recipients of the food.”

Over nearly two decades of service, Jerry says the experience has changed him as much as it has helped others.

“Volunteering and helping people in need comes back to you tenfold,” he said. “Just the feelings that you get and the satisfaction of having been there and been of help.”

Jerry also believes volunteering creates a stronger sense of community and purpose. Whether serving in the warehouse or at a distribution site, he says volunteers see firsthand how important Food Share is to local families.

Sometimes, after volunteering, Jerry stops at Costco still wearing his blue Food Share shirt. Strangers regularly stop him to share their appreciation.

“People come up and say, ‘I know Food Share. What a wonderful organization that is.’ That warms my heart.”

As both a volunteer and donor, Jerry understands that every hour and every dollar matter.

“If you’re a donor to Food Share, we can’t thank you enough for all that you do,” he said. “You’re a big part of everything that makes Food Share what it is.”