National Volunteer Week spotlight: Bud Witter

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. 

One of these remarkable volunteers is Bud Witter, who joined our transportation team in April 2025. As a retiree with extra time on his hands, Bud was eager to give back in a meaningful way—and he found exactly what he was looking for at The Food Bank. Since then, he has become a familiar face on the road, volunteering two to three times each week. He picks up donations from local grocery stores and delivers food hampers to individuals and families who can’t access a food assistance program in person, ensuring that mobility, health, or other challenges never stand in the way of a nutritious meal. 

For Bud, the rewards of volunteering are simple and profound. 

“The most rewarding part is seeing the smiles and the thank-yous from the people you deliver to,” he shares. “You know, there’s a lot of people who can’t speak English, but they sure do know how to say thank you.” 

Bud Witter with The Food Bank’s van.

Through his volunteer work, Bud has also gained a deeper understanding of how quickly circumstances can change—and why it’s important not to judge a book by its cover. 

He recalls a delivery he made years ago while helping a partner in the Community Food Assistance Network. The home was in a neighbourhood that initially gave him pause, and he admits he felt skeptical as he approached the door. 

“I knocked and this little young lad came to the door,” Bud remembers. “He looked at the food and he said, ‘dad, we can now eat!’” 

In that moment, Bud’s perspective shifted. 

“I didn’t realize they were holding on by the skin of their teeth,” he says. “They had a car. They had a house. But they also had bills to pay. What goes first? Food is the first thing to go. They have to keep a roof over their heads.” 

That experience stayed with him—and reinforced why his role matters. 

The sense of gratitude, Bud says, goes both ways. He often jokes about the ‘pay’ volunteers receive. 

“I said to another volunteer, ‘The pay you get here is fantastic.’ He said, ‘We get paid?’ I said, ‘Yeah, don’t you?’ He said, ‘What do you get paid?’ I said, ‘Gratitude.’ The smiles, the thank-yous—you can’t buy that. That’s why I do this. It’s gratifying to know you’re helping people.” 

If Bud’s story inspires you, there are many ways 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.