FEEDING SAN DIEGO VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS MANAGER SAM DUKE HAS A PASSION FOR HELPING PEOPLE HELP OTHERS. HE'S BEEN HOOKED ON HELPING SINCE THE FIRST TIME HE VOLUNTEERED. — SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - An army of 14,000 volunteers help Feeding San Diego fight food insecurity across the county every year.
One man makes sure that each and every person who volunteers their time is put to work in the most efficient way possible.
"My job is so amazing because I get to work with these amazing volunteers that come in," says Sam Duke, Feeding San Diego's Volunteer Program Coordinator. "I'm just so thankful they're giving their time to come help us end hunger. I can't thank them enough."
Duke started as a volunteer in 2013. He was hooked from the first time he walked into the warehouse.
"It was cool, the energy that was here, the staff was so welcoming and supportive and made me feel right at home," he says.
After that first experience, he started volunteering on a regular basis. Eventually he became a full time employee and worked his way up to his current position.
"I love setting up the project and I love engaging with the volunteers and hearing their stories and hearing about how they heard about us or came to us. I just love being able to connect with those volunteers," he says.
Without the volunteers, Feeding San Diego wouldn't be able to help the 1 in 8 San Diegans who face food insecurity. The collective work they do amounts to an extra 22 full-time employees.
"Volunteers are at the heart of what we do," says Sam.
If you're interested in volunteering, go to the "Get Involved" section of feedingsandiego.org.
