Building Nutrition Access Through Service
“Seeing firsthand how hunger affects people’s lives has been eye-opening. It’s made me more aware of how fragile food security can be for many families. Knowing that my service might help even one person makes the effort worthwhile and has given me a deeper appreciation for the position I’m in and the importance of this work.”
Serving at The Foodbank Inc., Samuel Stanley collaborates with foodbank staff and partner agencies to implement the Healthy Eating Research (HER) and Supporting Wellness at Pantries (SWAP) spotlight system. The goal of these projects is to increase nutrition literacy and support healthier food choices for neighbors and the wider community.
Although it has often proved a challenge to implement these programs across the different levels of the food distribution system, Samuel has learned useful lessons of patience and flexibility. As he reflects on his service thus far, he feels one of his biggest accomplishments has been increasing staff buy-in for the HER and SWAP programs. His work has also included working closely with a local food pantry to adapt SWAP to its existing distribution model.
As his service moves forward, Samuel is hopeful that his efforts will lay the necessary groundwork at the foodbank to sustain these essential programs. Looking ahead to his career, he is excited to continue in the nonprofit sector, working with others to create programs that meet pressing needs in the community. In service, Samuel has found that the Foodbank’s mission to eliminate hunger and its root causes resonates with him deeply.
“Seeing firsthand how hunger affects people’s lives has been eye-opening,” he says. “It’s made me more aware of how fragile food security can be for many families. Knowing that my service might help even one person makes the effort worthwhile and has given me a deeper appreciation for the position I’m in and the importance of this work.”
For Samuel, AmeriCorps has been a transformative opportunity, and he would recommend the experience to anyone who wishes to give back, grow, and gain new perspectives.
“AmeriCorps programs have helped me connect with my community, build practical skills, and gain a better understanding of issues I hadn’t fully seen before,” he says. “Yes, I would absolutely recommend national service.”
Thanks for your service, Samuel!