Spotlight on Midwest Food Bank Volunteers
BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL, IL
Alan Hopkins Brings Leadership and Care to Serving Others
For Alan, serving others is not just something he does. It is one of his core values and a God-given desire.
Alan grew up on a farm in Northern Illinois, where his 89-year-old mother still lives. After a 38-year career in agriculture with Shell, DuPont, Pioneer, and Corteva, Alan retired in January 2024. He later moved to Normal to be closer to his significant other, Christine, who works at Illinois State University, and to family.
Alan's two sons and their families inspire much of his joy. Caleb lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Natha. Joshua, an assistant pastor in Roberts, Illinois, lives there with his wife, ReAnna, and their daughters, Emry and Farrah. Alan enjoys helping Joshua remodel homes and also spends time at his family farm maintaining the land and restoring tractors.
Alan first connected with Midwest Food Bank through a corporate grant he secured while working at Corteva. The shared values of Corteva and Midwest Food Bank strengthened that relationship. When he retired, he knew he wanted to invest his time volunteering here. Alan also remembers years ago when a church food pantry he supported received food from Midwest Food Bank, linking his story to ours even further.
Since August 2024, Alan has served in many roles, including Traffic Lead, Lane Lead, and Agency Ambassador. He says, "Each role that I serve in is rewarding and challenging at times. The best part of serving at Midwest Food Bank is that we all have the same goal of helping agencies feed communities and minister to their needs."
Alan also keeps perspective by remembering that "it's about the people, not about the tasks." He values people more than any challenge that might come with teamwork.
Words about Alan from the Midwest Food Bank staff
Alan is a truly valuable member of the Midwest Food Bank family. Drawing on his farming background, he brings both skill and care to his role as a loader, ensuring trailers are packed safely and efficiently. His calm, friendly demeanor creates a welcoming environment for both our Loyal Loaders and community volunteers.
As his experience grew, so did his leadership. Alan now serves as a Lane Lead, overseeing the proper and accurate loading of each vehicle during distribution. He has also taken on the important role of Inside Traffic Leader, directing vehicles to their designated lanes and managing the overall pace of distribution to keep everything running smoothly and safely.
Most recently, Alan was invited to join the Agency Ambassador Team, where he visits out-of-town agencies, coordinates trips, and communicates directly with agency partners to arrange every detail.
Alan's dedication to building strong relationships with volunteers, staff, and agency partners makes him an indispensable part of the Midwest Food Bank team.
GEORGIA
How One Georgia Volunteer Found Joy in Serving Others
We are grateful for volunteers like Annette Olson, who not only give their time but also share their stories. In this guest piece, Annette reflects on her journey to Midwest Food Bank and the joy she experiences in serving alongside others.
I do believe that God intervened in that decision. My mother was at a nursing home in Peachtree City. I would drive from Atlanta every Sunday and pick up my dad at his house, then we both went to the nursing home to take my mother out to eat. She loved going out to eat. As time progressed and my mother's health declined, I was no longer able to get her in the car.
Annette Olsenasdf erg One Sunday, my dad and I were leaving the nursing home, and the house across the street was for sale. I took the immediate week off and, to make a long story short, bought the house. My mom was now able to come to my house for Sunday lunch along with my dad. As a further bonus, my mom's extended family came to my house for holiday gatherings. Divine intervention at its finest.
I started at Midwest Food Bank in January 2020, just before the COVID-19 shutdown.After retiring and playing for a while, I knew that I needed to do more than play. I Googled volunteer locations nearby, found Midwest Food Bank, made contact, and was at the next load-out. I was hooked.
I volunteer because I get more out of it than I give. As a child, I saw my mother volunteer for Meals on Wheels. She also volunteered with the church to help local communities. As I look back, her involvement in volunteering influenced me. When I work with groups with children and their parents, I tell them about my mom and the influence she had on me.
What do I like best? I have been blessed to meet so many wonderful, giving people while helping others. Volunteering is just good for the soul.
With gratitude,
Annette Olson
INDIANA
Celebrating Volunteers for 500+ Hours of Service
Midwest Food Bank Indiana is grateful to celebrate several core volunteers who have each surpassed 500 hours of service. Their dedication, hard work, and servant hearts make a lasting impact across our community.
From supporting warehouse operations to coordinating groups and assisting at distributions, these volunteers play essential roles in helping us fulfill our mission of "Sharing the Blessings."
Honorees
- Anne Atzinger — 533 hours, Distribution Pick Team Lead
- Dennis Black — 615 hours, Forklift Driver
- Don Atzinger — 504 hours, Distribution Outside Helper
- HD Masengale — 642 hours, Forklift Driver
- Margaret Dearinger — 586 hours, Distribution Pick Team Lead and Group Lead
- Mary Ann Plageman — 599 hours, Distribution Pick Team Lead
- Mike Kaschak — 576 hours, Forklift Driver
- Richard Schrier — 615 hours, Semi and Box Truck Driver
- Ron Buchmeier — 668 hours, Distribution Adjuster and Restocking
- Steve Moss — 715 hours, Forklift Driver
- Susan Meadors — 512 hours, Receptionist
Together, these honorees represent thousands of hours of service given freely to strengthen communities across Indiana. We are deeply grateful for their commitment and compassion.
NEW ENGLAND
Wayne and Maxine Schneider Serve with Dedication
For Wayne and Maxine Schneider, service is both personal and practical. Their journey with Midwest Food Bank began years ago at the Florida division in Fort Myers, where they volunteered when the location first opened.
As lifelong residents of Connecticut with a home in Florida, they became part of the early conversations in 2020 about opening a New England division. They have been active ever since. In fact, Wayne even installed the flooring in the building.
Their impact continues today. Maxine serves on the advisory board and brings energy and organization to event planning, especially the Harvest of Hope fundraiser. Wayne can often be found behind the wheel, operating a forklift, or supporting warehouse operations.
From 1990 to 2022, the Schneiders owned Schneider Flooring America, but in retirement, they sought something more meaningful. That search led them deeper into volunteer service.
Their motivation is simple. "We saw the good that could be done through the food bank to serve a broad spectrum of people, particularly children, mothers, and the elderly," they share. For them, volunteering is about putting blessings into action and keeping "idle hands" busy in ways that matter.
When they are not serving, Wayne and Maxine are avid travelers. A recent photo shows them in the Maldives, and in August, they were exploring Japan.
Their encouragement to others is straightforward: if you have the means, share your time and resources. "It leaves you with a good feeling," they say.
NEW ENGLAND
Flex Partnership Packs Thousands of Tender Mercies Meals
In November 2024, Midwest Food Bank New England welcomed volunteers from Flex, a global technology, supply chain, and advanced manufacturing company. Flex's vision is to be the most trusted partner worldwide, and its 170,000 employees across 30 countries work toward that goal with responsibility and sustainability in mind. The company's success has earned it a place on TIME magazine's World's Best Companies 2025 list for the third consecutive year.
Moved by their volunteer experience, Flex employees invited Midwest Food Bank to apply for a grant through the Flex Foundation. That grant awarded $40,000 to fund a community packing project of 140,000 Tender Mercies meals.
This support not only provided resources but also gave Flex employees the opportunity to see the project come full circle by returning to help pack meals. To date, 84,836 servings have already been completed, with more groups scheduled to finish the project.
This effort demonstrates the power of partnership, bringing together businesses, volunteers, and Midwest Food Bank's Tender Mercies program to provide nutritious meals for communities. It has also proven to be a meaningful opportunity for groups of all ages to give back through hands-on service.
PENNSYLVANIA
First National Bank Serves on United Way Day of Caring
On Friday, September 5, the spirit of service filled Midwest Food Bank as volunteers from First National Bank participated in the United Way Day of Caring. The group sorted and repacked three gaylords of frozen pasta, an essential task that helps ensure nutritious meals reach families facing food insecurity. Their willingness to serve made the day both productive and uplifting.
The volunteers didn't stop at food repacking. They stayed afterward to help clean up, leaving the space ready for the next wave of Kingdom work. Their efforts highlighted not only the power of corporate partnerships but also the ripple effect of compassion when people answer the call to serve. Midwest Food Bank is deeply grateful to First National Bank for joining hands in this mission of mercy and community impact.
Contact us at 717-614-8103 to see how your group, club or organization can serve.
TEXAS
Fitness Group in DFW helps Feed Thousands in Texas
Earlier this September, Fit To Serve, a Dallas–Fort Worth–based volunteer group, gathered at Midwest Food Bank Texas with one mission: to serve their community.
In less than two hours, their 50 volunteers packed 35,000 pounds of food on pallets valued at over $200,000. Grandparents, parents, and siblings worked side by side, showing how service connects generations.
Fit To Serve began when Joshua Hodnett learned about Midwest Food Bank in 2019. "I realized that I had access to a community of positive, energetic people… and I felt compelled to help direct that energy toward something meaningful," Joshua shared.
TEXAS
JROTC Volunteers Build 400 Holiday Boxes
This September, two local JROTC groups from schools in the area gave their time and energy to help prepare for the upcoming holiday season. Together, more than 50 cadets packed over 400 Holiday Boxes filled with food and care for families across Texas.
We are deeply grateful to:
- David W. Carter High School – JROTC under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Bernard Taylor
- Moises E. Molina High School – JROTC under the leadership of Colonel Barbara Taylor
When you subscribe to the blog, we will send you an e-mail when there are new updates on the site so you wouldn't miss them.
