Fresh Market at Western International High School is a Gleaners Community Mobile food distribution run by dedicated volunteers who help provide fresh food, hope, dignity, and connection for hundreds of families each week.
Serving nearly 900 families every week, Fresh Market at Western is a place where neighbors greet each other by name, where students and retirees work side by side, and where food becomes a powerful way to bring people together.
A Mission For All
For Deb, a retired nurse who has volunteered for nearly three years, the mission is simple and deeply human: “Our mission—our motto—is to serve whoever needs food.”
After helping when she could during the height of COVID, Deb became a weekly volunteer once she retired. She sees firsthand how hunger impacts families—and how access to food can change everything.
“Hunger is a huge, huge issue in the world right now,” she shared. “I always feel if you can get food into somebody, then life might go a little bit better for them.”
As a nurse, Deb often saw how offering food—even a small snack or a warm drink—could comfort someone in need. At Fresh Market, that same care extends to entire families. “You see the kids in the cars,” she said. “You’re getting food into them so they can hopefully learn at school.”
Giving Back and Moving Forward Together
For Barry, volunteering is personal. He’s been part of the Fresh Market team for several years, and his motivation comes from lived experience.
“Helping people keeps me coming back,” Barry said. “I was homeless for about three years, so I know how hard it can be. I understand how people struggle.”
Barry brings more than muscle to the market—he brings music. As the group’s unofficial DJ, he keeps energy high and spirits lifted, proving that connection can be felt not just through service, but through sound and shared joy.
Fresh Food, Real Community
Fred has logged nearly 2,000 volunteer hours since 2017, including 100 shifts last year alone. Fresh Market holds a special place in his heart—not just because of the food, but because of the people.
“The thing about Fresh Market that makes me want to come back every week is that we have a mission to get fresh fruits and vegetables into the community,” Fred said. “People don’t have to choose between coming here and their other benefits. You see friendly faces every week.”
Over time, that consistency has built something powerful. “We’ve kind of become an ‘outside of Gleaners mini family,’” Fred explained. “It’s not just getting food to people who need it—it’s building community.”
That sense of connection is so strong that Fred actively recruits new volunteers—sometimes even driving them to Fresh Market himself.
A Community of Care
For Chuck, who began volunteering right after retiring in 2020, Fresh Market is a way to give back after a life well lived.
“I’ve had a good life, so I saw volunteering as a way to give something back,” Chuck said. “In the end, we’re here to serve the client.”
Whether staging food, filling boxes, or helping cars move quickly through the line, Chuck values the teamwork—and the shared purpose. “I get a good feeling from helping other people out,” he said. “We’ve formed a sort of volunteer community, if you will.”
Why National Volunteer Month Matters
The stories from Fresh Market at Western remind us that volunteering isn’t just about giving time—it’s about showing up for one another. It’s about turning compassion into action, and strangers into neighbors. We’re grateful for every volunteer who brings energy, empathy, and heart to Fresh Market.
Interested in volunteering? Learn how you can get involved at Gleaners, here.
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