Students from Yuma Union High School District spent a volunteer shift at a local food bank in Yuma, sorting canned goods into bags for distribution to residents, participants said.

The service effort highlights how much the food bank depends on volunteers. A staff member at the food bank said, “Actually, people don't understand that the food bank is only run by 15 employees. So everything that's done here is pretty much volunteer based.” The staff member added, “We serve about 10,000 people in a month's time, and it's it's volunteer driven.”

Student volunteers described the day as meaningful and educational. One student volunteer said, “We are sorting, produce behind me, and we are putting cans into bags to give to the people. It honestly means the world to, me and especially our program. This community has supported us for so many years, and it's amazing to be able to give back to them.” Another student volunteer said, “I'm proud of the girls. They all showed up today, not not missing any, and, I'm happy that, they're really enthusiastic about this. And I think they're getting the understanding of what we're trying to achieve here today.”

Speakers emphasized the role of youth in sustaining the food bank’s operations and in learning about local needs. The staff member noted the small employee base and the direct impact volunteers can have on the number of people served.

Students and staff said the hands-on work helped build empathy and awareness about food insecurity in the community. One student volunteer said, “Being here really teaches me to have compassion and empathy, especially realizing how many families really struggle with the basic needs, and it it I feel blessed and, like, grateful to be able to be here and help them with that.”

The accounts in the meeting transcript are limited to the volunteer activity and statistics cited by the food bank staff member; no funding details, formal partnerships, or follow-up actions were provided in the remarks recorded.