When Ivy and Waldo began their year of service at the Friends In Deed Food Pantry, they expected to give their time. What they didn’t expect was how much the experience would reshape the way they see community, generosity, and their own future.
Ivy and Waldo are both students at Glendale Community College. They were placed at Friends In Deed through a state-supported initiative that pairs students with local nonprofits for a year of service. In exchange for about 10 hours of weekly volunteer work, participants receive financial support for school. But over time, the work became about far more than a stipend.
Ivy, who is pursuing a degree in business and economics while also exploring creative and cultural studies, came into the program with prior experience volunteering at a homeless shelter. Even so, the Food Pantry offered something different. The work was more physical than she anticipated—fast-paced, demanding, and often requiring constant movement and coordination. But what left the strongest impression wasn’t the labor itself. It was the atmosphere.
Unlike some nonprofit environments that can feel structured or impersonal, Friends In Deed stood out as deeply community-driven. There was a sense that everyone, including staff, volunteers, and clients alike, was part of something shared and human.
For Waldo, an accounting student, the experience was equally eye-opening. What began as a simple desire to stay active and do something meaningful quickly evolved into a deeper understanding of what service actually looks like. The reality of volunteering was far removed from the simplified version he had imagined. Behind every food distribution was a complex system of organizing, lifting, sorting, and making quick decisions under pressure. It was, at times, hectic and physically demanding, but also deeply fulfilling.
As the months passed, both Ivy and Waldo found themselves reflecting on the work and the people who make it possible.
One moment that stood out came during a pause in SNAP benefits last fall, when the need for food assistance surged. Almost immediately, the Pantry saw an overwhelming response. Donations poured in, and the community mobilized in real time. For Waldo, it was a turning point. Witnessing that level of generosity challenged his assumptions and revealed something powerful about human nature: when people see a need, they step up.
For Ivy, those same experiences planted a seed for the future. Watching individuals consistently show up with donations made her think about the kind of person she hopes to become. Having relied on community support herself during college, she now feels a growing desire to give back in the same way.
Again and again, their reflections return to a simple truth: the strength of Friends In Deed lies in its people.
Many of the volunteers they work alongside have been showing up week after week for years, dedicating their time and energy with no expectation of anything in return. Their consistency, generosity, and willingness to do difficult, often physical work speaks to a quiet but powerful commitment to others.
At the same time, both Ivy and Waldo are keenly aware of a gap they hope to see filled. Much of the volunteer base skews older, and they wonder what the future of service will look like if younger generations don’t step in. They see programs like theirs as part of the solution—an entry point that introduces students to volunteering and helps them understand its lasting value.
Because one of the biggest lessons they’ve learned is that making a difference can be as simple as showing up, lending a hand, or contributing in small, consistent ways.
As their year of service continues, Ivy and Waldo carry forward a deeper appreciation for the unseen work that sustains a community, and a growing belief in the power of people to care for one another. In the end, Friends In Deed is more than an organization. It’s a reflection of the individuals who bring it to life, day after day.