By Amy Clarke Sievers
Turning the calendar to 2026 for many means identifying New Year’s Resolutions. Let me be the first to say that if volunteering is on your bucket list, I hope you consider Loaves & Fishes as your destination. Providing food to 10,000+ people in our community each week only occurs through the dedication of our volunteers, and we are always looking for a few more dedicated individuals to serve our clients.
If volunteering is not at the top of your priority list for 2026, we may be able to help you achieve your goals – with a side of volunteering of course! With Loaves & Fishes, you could:
1. Move More
Whether your goal is to incorporate cardio or weight training, our volunteer roles are very active. Most opportunities involve standing for 2-3 hours at a time and being able to lift 5-10 pounds. If you are looking for more challenges, our courtesy patrol volunteers lift up to 40 pounds, and our online delivery volunteers report getting 2500+ steps in a shift!
2. Meet New People
More than 1,200 individuals in our community volunteer with Loaves & Fishes, ranging in age from 16 to 89 years old. On each shift you will find a mixture of age groups and numerous interests. 67% of our volunteers live in Naperville, so you will absolutely run into other volunteers around town.
3. Reduce Stress
Many of our volunteers would describe their time with us as a mindfulness practice. During our production shifts, volunteers complete finite tasks that require focus but are not difficult. And at the end of the shift, you know you packed food for individuals who need it.
Ready to get started? Sign-up today at loaves-fishes.org/volunteer. We can’t wait to help you make a difference in your life and especially in the lives of those in our community.
Amy Clarke Sievers is the Director of Volunteer Engagement at Loaves & Fishes Community Services. She can be contacted at acsievers@loaves-fishes.org.
