April is national volunteer month

LANSING - April is National Volunteer Month, which makes spring a good time of year to discuss the importance of giving back. Sharing time and talent in the form of community service is what makes the world a better place in which to live and work.
Meaningful volunteer work can be relaxing and fulfilling, providing volunteers with renewed creativity, motivation and vision that can carry over into other aspects of their life. Our statewide food bank network has a variety of volunteer opportunities available.
The Food Bank Council of Michigan encourages you to contact your local food bank today for more information and current volunteer opportunities; https://www.fbcmich.org/food-bank-network.
Our statewide food bank network distributes millions of pounds of food each year thanks to generous volunteers. Food bank volunteers help in a variety of ways from sorting and packing food to helping at a mobile distribution site to tending community gardens and much more.
During the pandemic, volunteer levels dropped at Michigan food banks but are now starting to recover. Volunteers play a critical role in the fight against hunger where we live. Volunteering at your local food bank is a rewarding experience that makes a big difference in the lives of our hungry neighbors. 
“When you volunteer your time at the food bank, you are doing so much more than just sorting and boxing food for distribution,” said Food Bank Council of Michigan executive director Dr. Phil Knight.  “The food you prepare will stock the shelves of a neighborhood pantry and eventually ease the worry of someone facing hunger.”
For students and young professionals, volunteering is a great way to learn new skills. In just one volunteer shift, you can learn about food banking and show future employers how much you care about the community.
It’s a great way to meet new people and even spend time as a family, modeling for the next generation the importance of helping neighbors. Volunteering can also bolster mental and physical health and well-being. It increases self-confidence while providing a sense of purpose, and by default, can even help combat depression.
According to a 2020 study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, older adults who volunteer for as little as two hours per week can substantially lower their risk of early death, become more physically active, and improve their sense of well-being compared with those who don’t volunteer.