Four years ago, Jose Fernandez visited our Pantry Partner Adelante Conejo Comunidad for community service hours but quickly found a deeper purpose volunteering at their community marketplace. “It’s been really fun,” he said. “I want to be here as long as I can.”

Volunteering has helped Jose connect with his community, gain mentorship, and build life skills. “Through this work, I’ve met people who have guided me on college and career paths,” he shared.

At the same time, Food Share supports his family. With a mom recovering from serious health challenges and a dad working in construction, access to pantry staples like milk, eggs, and cheese makes a tangible difference. “It’s something we need,” Jose explained. “It’s not on a regular basis, just when we need it. And it’s not easy to get food sometimes, prices are so expensive.”

For Jose, volunteering and receiving food go hand-in-hand. “Whenever I hand out milk or staples, I see smiles on people’s faces. That’s what I care about. I really appreciate all the donors for what they do, and I hope they continue their support.”