National Volunteer Week spotlight: Pickleball of Waterloo Wellington Region

April 19 to 25 is National Volunteer Week—a time to celebrate and thank The Food Bank of Waterloo Region’s more than 4,800 volunteers for the contributions they make each day so that people in our community can access food assistance. 

Among those thousands of volunteers are individuals who give their time as part of a group. One remarkable example is Pickleball of Waterloo Wellington Region (POWWR). 

Since 2017, POWWR has been a dedicated supporter of The Food Bank. Their involvement began with food and fund drives, before growing into hands-on volunteering through our Engagement program, which welcomes corporate and community groups to volunteer at our distribution centre. 

“A number of POWWR members had already volunteered at The Food Bank. It was their involvement and enthusiasm that sparked the idea to get POWWR involved as an organization,” explains Christine MacTavish, a POWWR board member. “That’s when we first decided to host food drives. This evolved into organizing pickleball tournaments to raise cash donations. Once COVID restrictions lifted, POWWR members also began coming into The Food Bank to volunteer. They enjoyed it so much that several become regular volunteers.” 

Christine MacTavish in The Food Bank’s distribution centre.

Through the Engagement program, groups help with activities like sorting frozen food, repacking items in the Fresh Approaches Food Centre, sorting non-perishable food, and packing hampers. They also receive a guided tour of our 31,000-square-foot facility. It’s a great opportunity to make a difference, learn about our work, and gain a deeper understanding of food insecurity in Waterloo region. 

POWWR members typically volunteer in our Engagement room, where they sort non-perishable food collected through community food and fund drives and grocery store donation bins. Each item is checked to ensure it meets quality and best-before guidelines, then organized into categories—such as pasta, cans, and snacks—so it can be distributed to our partners in the Community Food Assistance Network, who support the nearly 73,000 people in Waterloo region accessing food assistance.  

For POWWR members, the experience is both meaningful and rewarding. 

“Our members see the difference their actions make,” Christine shares. “It’s two hours of high-energy, fun. Our POWWR group of volunteers is so large that we take over both stations in the Engagement room. We always set up a friendly competition to see which group can sort the most pounds of food. But really, it’s about our collective efforts. At the end of the evening, we’re always keen to learn how many meals we’ve boxed up for distribution. It’s such a fun, feel good experience.” 

POWWR volunteering in 2025.

For groups considering volunteering, Christine offers simple advice: don’t wait. 

“The Food Bank is a well-run organization,” Christine says. “They provide all the necessary training. The staff at The Food Bank are very friendly and welcoming. They work alongside you to support you and answer any questions you have. My advice is to just jump right in. Once people give it a try and see firsthand the difference their group can make, they’ll be glad they did.” 

If POWWR’s story inspires you, there are many ways to get involved. Visit our Volunteer page to explore opportunities and discover how your group can make a difference for people facing hunger in Waterloo region.