At the heart of the Redwood Empire Food Bank’s mission is a strong sense of community. Volunteers play an essential role in ensuring our neighbors facing hunger have access to fresh, nutritious food. Kathy and Dan Sharp exemplify this spirit of service through their dedication to the food bank. Their journey as volunteers is one of connection, purpose, and making a difference—one shift at a time.
A Call to Serve
For Kathy and Dan, volunteering with the Redwood Empire Food Bank was a way to give back in the wake of hardship.
“After the Tubbs fire, my husband Dan and I wanted to find a way to give back to the community. I’d always known about the food bank but had never volunteered myself,” Kathy shares. “I started coming as often as I could, and as the pandemic increased the need for food assistance, our involvement deepened.”
That commitment continues today, fueled by the friendships they’ve formed and the impact they see firsthand. “What keeps me coming back is our wonderful participants, volunteers, and the food bank employees. Having a way to interact with people in my community that I may not have met otherwise is so rewarding.”
Kathy and Dan have each dedicated over 1,000 hours of their time to the Redwood Empire Food Bank, volunteering at numerous distribution sites throughout Sonoma County. Their commitment goes even further—they have stepped up to assist in Lake and Mendocino counties whenever extra help is needed and have also supported the food bank by helping at special events.
The Joy of Volunteering as a Team
Kathy and Dan have found that volunteering together strengthens not only their community but also their bond.
“Working with Dan is a lot of fun! It’s nice to volunteer as a team, and it gives us a sense of purpose,” Kathy explains. “While we try to volunteer together as much as possible, we often have different roles during our shifts. That way, at the end of the day, we can come together and share our experiences.”
For Dan, the dry goods station is his domain. “After many shifts, he has his section down to a science!” Kathy laughs. “He also loves that he’s one of the first people guests interact with during distributions, so he gets to have great conversations.”
Meanwhile, Kathy enjoys welcoming guests and ensuring they feel comfortable. “Right now, my favorite job is working as a W5 Volunteer, where I can greet and assist our guests. In the past, I also enjoyed parking lot duty—guest safety is important to me, and it gave me another way to chat with our community.”
Making a Tangible Difference
Through their time at the food bank, Kathy and Dan have seen firsthand how hunger affects people from all walks of life.
“Hunger doesn’t discriminate,” Kathy says. “Ending hunger seems like such a difficult task, but even giving a few hours of time a week can make a difference.”
Dan agrees, emphasizing the impact of small actions. “Knowing that we are able to make just a small difference in helping our neighbors gives us great satisfaction. Food is so important to everyone’s lives, and we love knowing that we have a role in keeping the community fed.”
A Community United: The Neighborhood Hunger Network
Kathy and Dan’s story perfectly reflects the mission of our Neighborhood Hunger Network, an initiative that brings together volunteers, businesses, and community partners to ensure food reaches those who need it most. This network relies on dedicated individuals like the Sharps to help distribute food at neighborhood pantries, ensuring that no one in our community goes hungry.
“The people here—both those serving and those being served—create such a warm, welcoming environment,” Kathy shares. “It’s inspiring to see such a diverse group of people coming together with a shared purpose.”
Encouraging Others to Get Involved
When asked what they would say to someone considering volunteering, Kathy and Dan’s enthusiasm is contagious.
“Dan likes to say that if you volunteer here once, you’ll want to keep doing it—he’s addicted!” Kathy laughs. “Since his retirement, volunteering at the food bank has been a fantastic way to fill his time. And for me, every time I wear a Redwood Empire Food Bank t-shirt in public, it sparks conversations and allows me to share the incredible work happening here.”
Beyond the rewarding experience of serving others, they credit the food bank staff for creating an atmosphere of warmth and purpose. “I’ve never seen a place where people are so genuine and passionate about the work they’re doing. They put in significant effort to make a difference, and that’s a huge reason why we keep coming back.”
Join the Movement
Kathy and Dan’s story is a testament to the power of neighbors helping neighbors. Whether you’re looking to volunteer as an individual, a couple, or a family, the Redwood Empire Food Bank offers countless opportunities to make a difference.
Inspired by their story? Share yours with us! Reach out to Katie at kdelsanto@refb.org.
Get involved today. Click here to learn more about volunteer opportunities and how you can be part of the fight against hunger in our community.
