With passion and purpose: How Melody Banks ignites volunteerism at The Food Bank

At The Food Bank of Waterloo Region, our staff work tirelessly behind the scenes every day—securing and processing donations, organizing fundraising events and campaigns, sorting and storing food, and delivering orders to the 61 organizations in the Community Food Assistance Network. They also support our volunteers and collaborate with Network partners, all with one clear goal: to ensure no one in our community goes hungry. 

One of our dedicated team members is Melody Banks, who joined The Food Bank in 2019. As our volunteer program officer, Melody oversees the entire volunteer experience—from recruitment and onboarding to ongoing support and appreciation. 

“My role is to oversee the volunteer program,” Melody explains. “I focus on the whole lifecycle of a volunteer. I recruit and onboard volunteers into their roles, and once they’re set up, they report to other staff—but I’m always available for support.” 

Melody Banks at her desk.

Building community through volunteering 

Volunteers are essential to our work at The Food Bank. They help by accepting donations, sorting food, packing hampers, and delivering food to our Network partners and people in need. Volunteers also play a key role in our fundraising events. At these events—and at community-run events that support The Food Bank—they raise awareness about our work, collect food and cash donations, and help people understand the impact of their support.  

“For a lot of people, it’s how they build community and connect with others,” Melody says. “We see many newcomers to Canada who volunteer here as a way to meet people, experience our culture, and gain valuable experience. For older adults, it’s a great opportunity to get out and stay active.” 

One of Melody’s biggest challenges is ensuring there are enough volunteers to meet demand. 

“It can be stressful not knowing if we’re going to have enough people for what’s coming up,” Melody shares. “But people are so generous. Anytime we worry we won’t have enough people to help with something, the community always responds, and we always meet the need. It’s amazing to see how willing people are to give their time and energy.” 

For Melody, the most rewarding part of her job is the people she meets. 

“It’s neat to see people come from all different walks of life and end up here, working together toward the same goal,” she smiles. “I love meeting all the volunteers at orientation and hearing what brought them here.” 

Melody Banks in The Food Bank’s distribution centre.

Celebrating National Volunteer Week 

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

“It’s such a great opportunity to celebrate everything our volunteers do,” she says. “They give so much of their time to us, so it’s really nice to be able to show our appreciation a little bit more.” 

This year, the theme for National Volunteer Week is Ignite Volunteerism, inviting everyone to experience the transformative impact of giving back. Adding to its significance, the United Nations has designated 2026 as the International Year of Volunteers, recognizing the vital role volunteers play in building strong, caring communities. 

“We rely on volunteers to help us meet the increasing need in our community,” Melody says. “It’s incredibly important that people step up where they can.” 

Want to get involved? Visit our Volunteer page to explore opportunities and discover how you can make a difference for people facing hunger in Waterloo region.