Giving back as a family strengthens bonds, supports community

For Dave, Sandy, and their son John, volunteering is something they do together as a family.

“I was surprised by the need,” Dave recalls from his first food bank volunteer experience in Northern Illinois. “I didn’t see it in my everyday life, but it was out there.”

6 Ways to Fight Hunger in 2026

Most of us have a reason why we are part of the fight against hunger: because food costs continue to rise, because children need healthy food to thrive, because seniors should not have to choose between food and medicine.

Here are six ways to turn your why into an act of hope.

Meals and Hope for Hard Times

Anybody can fall on hard times. For neighbors living paycheck to paycheck, a cut in hours or a lost job can quickly turn everyday choices into painful tradeoffs. Grocery shopping becomes less about preferences and more about survival. Neighbors have to weigh decisions like what they can afford, what has to wait so rent, insurance, and medical bills still get paid.

Nourishing Students at School and Home

“The student told me ‘We only got a can of beans. I don’t know what I’m gonna have for dinner tonight,’” he recalled.

That was the moment Deacon Pete knew the team had to find a way to feed any student at school and at home. The Catholic learning community educates young people of limited economic means through a rigorous college preparatory curriculum, integrated with relevant work study experience, so students graduate ready to lead lives of faith, purpose and service.